• UAE's International Resources Holding appoints two directors to Alphamin board following 56% stake acquisition

• Ziad Mikhael and Salman Bhatti from Abu Dhabi investment firm 2PointZero join as non-executive directors

• Move strengthens Emirati oversight of world's largest tin mine in DRC, targeting 17,500 tonnes production in 2025

Emirati conglomerate International Resources Holding (IRH) moved to consolidate control over the Bisie deposit, one the world's richest tin mine and the largest deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group installed two board directors at Alphamin Resources, which operates Bisie.

The September 5 appointments of Ziad Mikhael and Salman Bhatti as non-executive directors, pending regulatory approval, follow IRH's June agreement to acquire 56% of Alphamin through subsidiary purchases—marking a significant Gulf expansion into African critical minerals.

Both appointees hail from 2PointZero, the Abu Dhabi investment company that serves as IRH's parent. Mikhael, currently Investment Director, combines engineering credentials with finance experience gained since joining the investment sector in 2019 through Chimera Capital, 2PointZero's investment arm.

Bhatti, Vice President of Investments, brings nearly a decade of Big Four auditing experience from Deloitte and KPMG before joining Chimera Capital in 2022. His ACCA membership and economics background complement the board's financial oversight capabilities.

Strategic Oversight Without Operational Control

The appointments reflect IRH's strategy of protecting its substantial investment while maintaining arm's-length governance. As non-executive directors, Mikhael and Bhatti will provide external perspective and monitoring without direct involvement in daily operations—a structure designed to balance investor protection with management autonomy.

To accommodate the new directors under Alphamin's constitutional board limits, Chief Financial Officer Eoin O'Driscoll and technical expert Jan Trouw resigned their board seats while retaining operational roles. O'Driscoll continues as CFO while Trouw transitions to technical consultant, preserving institutional knowledge.

High Stakes in Critical Mineral Supply

The governance changes come as Alphamin targets 17,500 tonnes of tin production in 2025 from Bisie, considered both the largest tin mine in the DRC and among the world's richest deposits. With tin prices elevated by supply constraints and growing demand for electronics and renewable energy applications, the UAE's strategic positioning in this market could prove highly valuable.

Timothée Manoke