KINSHASA, April 21: Mineral exports from Congo's eastern Kivu provinces should start to resume next week after the government halted them to enforce rules on processing and transportation, a local official said on Saturday.

The vast, mineral-rich central African country suspended exports from the North and South Kivu provinces -- which produce cassiterite, tungsten ore and coltan -- earlier this week to ensure “counters” who process and export minerals had licences.

The move is part of efforts by a new government installed in February in Democratic Republic of Congo to tighten regulations governing its mining industry following the former Belgian colony's first free elections in four decades last year.

“We should restart exports by mid-week,” Emmanuel Ndimubanzi, head of the mines division in the provincial government of North Kivu, told Reuters by telephone. But he said only four of 22 counters had been cleared to apply for licences, which show the minerals were processed within Congo and allow them to be exported from the country.

“Two counters have already paid for their permits. By the end of next week we should have at least four counters up and running,” he said from the provincial capital Goma.

In order to qualify for permits, counters must show they have the equipment necessary to wash, crush and treat minerals.

—Reuters