Hi Miningnut, Just finished Blood River and can recommend as a...

Hi Miningnut,

Just finished Blood River and can recommend as a good read and certainly an eye opener to the life in the Congo.

Following AVM for all these years you get an impression of the uncertainties of doing business in such a lawless environment but this book confirms it. Ordinary life is impossible unless you know the right people and to anything done commercially must be a hundred times worse. The Kilwa incident even gets a mention in the epilogue as it happened after this bloke finished his epic journey. Doesnt try to give his opinion on the rights or wrongs only that a 'foreign-owned mining companys vehicles were requisitioned'.

Perhaps a reminder of the intangible benefits of the Catala Agreement already raised by you. Despite the low price should he be able to use some of that influence to aid our contract negotiations then the future should be rosy.

Not the way we would all prefer to be operating but unfortunately the way it actually is.

Cheers

Merkin