ITRI and the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center (TIC) have commenced of a feasibility study to determine the practicality of extending the iTSCi Pilot Program to Katanga province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The current pilot scheme, aimed at tracking ‘onflict minerals’ and providing verifiable provenance information from individual mine sites in eastern DRC, began in June in South Kivu province and is expected to commence in North Kivu shortly.

The feasibility study will be conducted by PACT, an international development organisation with head offices in Washington DC, and is being financed by contributions from various TIC member companies.

ITRI has been working since early 2009 on a phased approach towards improved due diligence, governance, and traceability of cassiterite from the DRC. The first phase of the iTSCi scheme has been operating since July 2009 and ensures all official export and evaluation documentation is available with mineral shipments for export.