The ''Société internationale forestière et minière du Congo'' (
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
; 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.
For the length of its existence, from 1913 to 1961, Forminière had a monopoly on diamond production in Kasai.
Forminière and its rival, the
Société minière de Beceka (Mibeka), later changed to "de Bakwanga" (MIBA), dominated the production of diamonds in the Belgian Congo. In 1959, Forminière's production of diamonds rose to 425,234
carats.
''Un autre regard sur Tervuren - Guide alternatif de l'exposition''
, Tony Busselen, International Action for Liberation, 26 mai 2005 However, after the 1960 independence of Congo and unrest in the region, company operations soon ceased. Forminière was the principal corporate supporter of the secessionist state of South Kasai and received concessions from its government in exchange for financial support.
See also
* Thomas Fortune Ryan
* Societé Minière de Bakwanga
*Diamang Diamang was a company exploiting diamond mines in Angola. Diamang was formed on 16 October 1917 by financial investors from Angola's then colonial master Portugal, and also from Belgium, United States, Great Britain and South Africa. The company was ...
(Angola)
* Union Minière du Haut Katanga (UMHK)
* South Kasai
References
Bibliography
* ''Forminière 1906-1956'', Brussels, Ed. L. Cuypers, 1956, 211p.
*
*
Archive International Forestry and Mining Company of the Congo
Royal Museum for Central Africa
History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Non-renewable resource companies established in 1913
Defunct companies of Belgium
Mining companies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Defunct mining companies
Belgian Congo
Diamond mining companies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gold mining companies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Silver mining companies
1913 establishments in the Belgian Congo
Non-renewable resource companies disestablished in 1961
1961 disestablishments in the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)
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