Bisie’s phased restart a boost for tin markets
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Bisie’s phased restart a boost for tin markets
Last week Alphamin announced that it will restart operations at its Bisie mine in the DRC.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.
According to sources on the ground in the eastern parts of the DRC operational activities at Alphamin’s Bisie tin mine is not in full swing yet, but the company will follow a phased approach depending on the security situation.
Alphamin suspended operations at its prolific Mpama South deposit at Bisie on 13 March 2025. The closure had significant impacts on the global tin supply and prices.
Security threat a major concern
After Alphamin announced that it will close Bisie in response to escalating security threats from the advancing M23 rebel group, tin prices surged to their highest level in more than two years.
The decision followed the occupation of towns like Walikale, Nyabiondo and Kashebere by the insurgents. Alphamin announced last week that the militants have now withdrawn eastward from Walikale towards Nyabiondo and Masisi, more than 130 km from the mine site.
Major tin supplier
Bisie produced 4,270 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate from 01 January to 13 March, when operations ceased.
The mine is the third largest tin operation globally and produced 17,323 tonnes of contained tin in 2024, originally expected to increase to 20,000 tonnes in 2025 as the company benefits from a full year of production from the Mpama South expansion completed last year.
Tin a critical mineral
Several countries have officially recognised tin as a critical or strategic mineral due to its essential role in advanced manufacturing, electronics, and the global energy transition amongst them the United States, UK and Australia.
USA in the DRC
The USA faces a significant dependency on foreign sources for tin. Since domestic tin mining ceased in 1993 and smelting operations ended in 1989, the country relies heavily on imports, with approximately 75% of its annual tin consumption met through foreign suppliers. This reliance poses strategic vulnerabilities, especially given the geopolitical risks associated with major tin-producing countries.
According to an article by Reuters last week, the USA pushed for a deal that would ensure the reopening of Bisie.
According to the Reuters report, the fate of the mine was a point of discussion during the recent visit to Kinshasa by U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior Africa adviser Massad Boulos.
According to several sources in the DRC M23 made the decision to withdraw from Walikale because Washington got involved in peace negotiations between the M23, Rwanda and the DRC.
Bisie’s phased restart a boost for tin markets