Somima

Somima $PRL Mainzcr landralc 46 60325 Frankfurt am Main

The Honorable Mary L Schapiro Chairman US Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street NE Washington DC 20549 USA

21 March 2012

Honorable Chairman Shapiro honorable Commissioners

I am writing to you as Chair of the Societe Miniere du Maniema SPRL (Somima) one of the oldest mining and trading companies in the Democratic Republic ofCongo located in the province of Maniema Somima is the primary outlet for the artisanal miners ofManiema bundling the output of the many individual miners throughout the province and ensuring them access to the world market for tin tungsten and tantalum ores

Today our miners are suffering For about a year now the market for the minerals from our province has been effectively shut down due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding Section 1502 ofthe Dodd-Frank Act In addition large amounts of these minerals have already been extracted but as their status under the new regimen has not been clarified and they thus cannot be sold they are currently blocking any efforts to advance the traceability process at the mines in Maniema and the eventual resumption of our conflict-free exports

Our province has been peaceful for many years We have been desperately waiting for movement and the province ofManiema has received vocal support on this issue from the UN Group ofExperts the OECD and the relevant industry groups The Group of Experts confirmed in its report dated December 20 I I that the province can be reasonably considered to be conflict-free

1

SomimaSPRL SomimaSPRL SomimaSPRL

Avcnuc Lumumba N_60 Main~-ltr Landstr 46 Two International Finance Centre Level 19

Kindu Maniema 60325 Frankfurt am Main 8 Finance Street Central

RDCONGO DEUTSCHIjND HONG KONG I CHINA

Tel +2439)80790 79 Tel +49 69 47 88 1804 Tel +852 22 51 82 52

E-Mail infosomima _com Fax+49694788 1805 Fax +852225 1 1618

wwws()mimacom E-Mail frankfurtsomimacom E-Mail hongkongsomimacom

WWWSOmlmaCOm wwwsomirna_corn

Somima

Somima SPRLmiddot ManZltf l andgtlrJ8c 46middot60325 Frnlkfun am Main

I am attaching a letter by his Excellency Mr Pascal Salumu Tutu the Governor of the province ofManiema directed to the EICC in February 2012 adding further emphasis to these points

Despite these many hopeful signs however no reputable smelter is currently willing to purchase our existing materials out of fear that the rules to be issued will retroactively apply to these materia ls

The traceability scheme cannot be implemented at our mines in this state of uncertainty We therefore urgently need the Commission to issue defmitive guidance and to implement Section 1502 The continued delay in implementation is forcing many of the miners to hold on to large amounts of material themselves exposing them and their families to many hazards while fearing for their livelihoods and futures

The people ofManiema are poor many are struggling to survive in this remote area of the country Our mines have long been an integral part ofour provinces economy with this source of income shut down our communities are further impoverished and thrust into a dangerous downturn The news that this crippling uncertainty and the consequent boycott of our minerals may now continue until June 2012 due to a delay in the Commissions release of the rules is devastating to us I beseech you to reconsider your timeline and allow this untenable situation to end

In addition Somima and our miners must be allowed to sell the existing materials to clear the way and provide financing for traceability programs at the mines ofManiema Even the Group of Experts recommended that preshydetermined amounts ofthe existing materials be tagged and sold to this end Given the delay in progress due to non-agreement pertaining to these existing materials Turge the Commission to issue guidance to this effect as soon as possible and to include a phase-in period of least one year in its rules so that a thorough and reliable traceability process can be instituted in Maniema

2

Somima SPRL Somima SIgtRL SomimaSPRL

Avenue Lumumba N60 Mainzer Landstr 46 Two inlemnional Finance Centre Level 19

Kinduf Maniema 60325 Frdnkfurt am Main 8 Finance Street Central

RDCONGO DEUTSCHLAND HONG KONG I CHINA

Tel +24399807 90 79 Tel +49 69 47 88 1804 Tel +852 22 51 8252

E-Mail infosomima com Fax +49 69 41 88 18 OS Fax +852225 1 16 18 www_iOIllimacom E-Mail frmkfurt Csomimacom EmiddotMail hongkongsomimaxom

wwwsomimacom wwwsomimaoom

Somima

Somima SPRLmiddot ManZltf l andgtlrJ8c 46middot60325 Frnlkfun am Main

I am attaching a letter by his Excellency Mr Pascal Salumu Tutu the Governor of the province ofManiema directed to the EICC in February 2012 adding further emphasis to these points

Despite these many hopeful signs however no reputable smelter is currently willing to purchase our existing materials out of fear that the rules to be issued will retroactively apply to these materia ls

The traceability scheme cannot be implemented at our mines in this state of uncertainty We therefore urgently need the Commission to issue defmitive guidance and to implement Section 1502 The continued delay in implementation is forcing many of the miners to hold on to large amounts of material themselves exposing them and their families to many hazards while fearing for their livelihoods and futures

The people ofManiema are poor many are struggling to survive in this remote area of the country Our mines have long been an integral part ofour provinces economy with this source of income shut down our communities are further impoverished and thrust into a dangerous downturn The news that this crippling uncertainty and the consequent boycott of our minerals may now continue until June 2012 due to a delay in the Commissions release of the rules is devastating to us I beseech you to reconsider your timeline and allow this untenable situation to end

In addition Somima and our miners must be allowed to sell the existing materials to clear the way and provide financing for traceability programs at the mines ofManiema Even the Group of Experts recommended that preshydetermined amounts ofthe existing materials be tagged and sold to this end Given the delay in progress due to non-agreement pertaining to these existing materials Turge the Commission to issue guidance to this effect as soon as possible and to include a phase-in period of least one year in its rules so that a thorough and reliable traceability process can be instituted in Maniema

2

Somima SPRL Somima SIgtRL SomimaSPRL

Avenue Lumumba N60 Mainzer Landstr 46 Two inlemnional Finance Centre Level 19

Kinduf Maniema 60325 Frdnkfurt am Main 8 Finance Street Central

RDCONGO DEUTSCHLAND HONG KONG I CHINA

Tel +24399807 90 79 Tel +49 69 47 88 1804 Tel +852 22 51 8252

E-Mail infosomima com Fax +49 69 41 88 18 OS Fax +852225 1 16 18 www_iOIllimacom E-Mail frmkfurt Csomimacom EmiddotMail hongkongsomimaxom

wwwsomimacom wwwsomimaoom

Somima

SommaSPIH middot M~nur UnltWra8e 46 6OJ2S IranUun am Main

In order for the existing materials to be sold as called for by the Group of Experts and others clarification by the Commission that the rules will not retroactively apply to these existing materials is indispensable

We applaud and gratefully appreciate the efforts that the Commission has made to put an end to the violence in parts ofour country and to root out the abuse of the many innocent victims that have suffered so much But the ever-continuing delay in implementing Section 1502 ofthe Dodd-Frank Act has started to create victims of its own in our province ofManiema far away from the conflict areas These miners who live and work at a safe distance from the contlict are finding themselves deprived of their livelihoods without justification without means of appeal and without any reliable promises when the boycott of their labor will end

On behalf of Somima and the miners and families of Maniema I urge you Please implement Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act now Please provide a phase-in period of at least one year and a firm statement that the rules will start at the beginning ofthe supply chain without retroactive requirements that cannot be fulfilled to allow us to properly sell the existing materials and clear the way for a reliable traceability process The wellbeing ofour province depends on your swift action

Executive Chairwoman Societe Miniere du Maniema SPRL

CC His Excellency Mr Pascal Salumo Tutu the Governor of Maniema Province His Excellency Mr Amisi Lupia Patric~ Mining Minister of Manicma Province

3

SomimaSPRL SolllimaSPRL SomimaSPRL Avenue Lumumba N60 Main7er LandSlr 46 Two International Finance Centre Level 19 Kindlll Maniema 60325 Frankfurt am Main 8 Finance Street Central

RDCONGO DElITSCl lLAND HONG KONG I CHINA

Tel +243 998 07 90 79 Tel +496947 88 1804 TeL +852 22 51 82 52

E-Mailinfosomimacom Fax-t49 694788 1805 Fax +852 22 51 16 IS

wwwsomimacom E-Mail frank furt som ima_cnm E-Mail honghlllgsornirnacom wwwsomimacom wwwsomimacom

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