Exporters of metals such as tin, tantalum and cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were closely monitoring the situation in the country following the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano over the weekend of May 22-23.
The eruption, and the subsequent aftershocks, have forced the evacuation of thousands of people from the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, which is around 15km from the volcano.
So far, 32 people have been killed by the Nyiragongo eruption and thousands more made homeless, according to the United Nations. DRC government offices in Goma were also said to have shut.
"Some disruption of government services relating to export documentation has occurred, but assuming [there are] no further volcanic eruptions, these services are expected to return to normal in the first week of June," Alphamin Resources, which operates the Bisie tin mine, said on Thursday May 27.
The DRC produces about 8% of the world's tin-in-concentrate, according to the International Tin Association, and is a key part of the supply chain for both Asian and Chinese smelters.
The Bisie asset is regarded as the...