Forminière

The Société internationale forestière et minière du Congo (French; literally the "International Forestry and Mining Company of the Congo"), known as Forminière, was a lumber and mining company in the Belgian Congo (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo). Founded by Jean Jadot in 1906, the company began diamond mining in Kasai in 1913. At its height, Forminière was involved in gold and silver mining, cotton, palm and rubber cultivation, farming, sawmilling and even owned shops. The Belgian colonial state co-owned 50 percent of the company's capital, the rest being held largely by American shareholders.

Slag heaps at Forminière's diamond installations in Kasai, c.1959

For the length of its existence, from 1913 to 1961, Forminière had a monopoly on diamond production in Kasai.[1]

Forminière and its rival, the Société minière de Beceka, dominated the production of diamonds in the Belgian Congo. In 1959, Forminière's production of diamonds rose to 425,234 carats.[2] However, after the 1960 independence of Congo and unrest in the region, company operations soon ceased.[1] Forminière was the principal corporate supporter of the secessionist state of South Kasai and received concessions from its government in exchange for financial support.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Diamonds in Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo". Alluvial Exploration & Mining. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  2. Un autre regard sur Tervuren - Guide alternatif de l'exposition Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Tony Busselen, International Action for Liberation, 26 mai 2005
  3. Nugent 2004, p. 86.

Bibliography
  • Forminière 1906-1956, Brussels, Ed. L. Cuypers, 1956, 211p.
  • Derksen, Richard (1983). "Forminière in the Kasai, 1906-1939". African Economic History. 12: 49–65. JSTOR 3601316.
  • Nugent, Paul (2004). Africa since Independence: A Comparative History. New York: Palgrave-MacMillan. ISBN 978-0-333-68273-9.
  • Archive International Forestry and Mining Company of the Congo, Royal Museum for Central Africa
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