SAEMAPE Launches Artisanal Miner Identification After Evacuation of Radioactive Site

Kolwezi, April 7, 2026 - The Service for Assistance and Support of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (SAEMAPE) has launched an operation to identify artisanal miners in Lualaba province, following the evacuation of the T17 tailings site over concerns related to radioactive materials. The T17 site, located within the Kamoto Copper Company concession, was declared a radiological emergency zone, prompting the removal of artisanal miners and triggering a broader reorganization of informal mining activities in the area. As part of this transition, SAEMAPE began its identification campaign on April 4 at the Kasulo site in Kolwezi. The initiative follows an earlier phase focused on registering mining cooperatives, with the aim of establishing a reliable database of actors operating in the artisanal mining sector. Officials say the operation is intended to formalize artisanal mining, improve oversight, and enhance safety conditions for miners working in often unregulated and hazardous environments. SAEMAPE leadership described the process as a key step toward structuring the sector and reducing disorder at mining sites. Provincial authorities emphasized that better identification would also help enforce safety standards and improve governance in mining areas. On the ground, the process began with the symbolic issuance of identification cards to representatives of several mining cooperatives operating at Kasulo, alongside individual artisanal miners. Stakeholders involved in the sector have largely welcomed the initiative, viewing it as a move toward greater organization and recognition of their activities. Many miners expressed hope that formal identification would improve working conditions and provide greater legitimacy for their work. According to SAEMAPE, the initial phase targets miners relocated from the T17 site and plans to redistribute them to designated artisanal zones, including Kasulo, UCK, and Menuiserie. Authorities indicate that the program will be gradually extended across Lualaba province as part of broader efforts to regulate artisanal mining and strengthen control over mineral extraction activities.