Alphamin deploys more drill rigs at Bisie
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Alphamin deploys more drill rigs at Bisie
Despite security challenges Alphamin has deployed more drill rigs at Bisie tin mine in the DRC.
In 2017 I spent some time in the spectacular rainforest of the Congo Basin.
I flew to Kigali in Rwanda with a small group of journalists and the management team of Alphamin Resources to report about progress on the building of a tin mine they called Bisie.
Bisie is close to the town of Walikale in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
We spent one night in Kigali and then drove overland through Rwanda to Goma, capital city of North Kivu.
From Goma airport we took a two-hour flight with a small plane (we had a truck engine on board with us) and landed on a short section of Walikale’s main road.
At that stage Alphamin didn’t have an airstrip and before we landed the pilot had to radio in so that the police could clear and close the road.
From Walikale we drove for six hours through the thickest rainforest I have ever seen to a very rudimentary camp on Bisie Hill.
I went to Bisie on invitation from Boris Kamstra, then CEO of Alphamin Resources, to cover this amazing story.
Tin mine from scratch
Alphamin started from scratch and deep in the rainforest they constructed what is today one of the highest-grade tin mines in the world.
With militia and many rebel groups (amongst them M23) active in the region security was then (as it is today) a major concern and we always had a few local policemen and a lot of personal security around.
Since the very beginning there has been ongoing clashes between M23, the Congolese army, and several smaller militias in and around Walikale.
Last week Alphamin said in a statement that the number of security events reported in the region are on the increase. Most of these events took place on the border between the Massisi and Walikale territories about 200km from the mine, but it is something that Bisie is monitoring.
Despite its many challenges and a temporarily closure of mining operations in March 2025 due to safety reasons, Alphamin continues mining tin.
Moreover, come rain or shine, Alphamin’s exploration team continues drilling.
Great to see that Bisie is increasing the number of rigs at Mpama North and South despite more security threats.
The picture below was taken at the camp of Bisie Hill in 2017, early in the morning after having some coffee with the gents in picture (names unknown).
Alphamin deploys more drill rigs at Bisie