Inside the murky business of cobalt mining in DR Congo
FRANCE 24 English・6 minutes read
The Democratic Republic of Congo is a major source of cobalt, but ethical concerns arise due to hazardous mining conditions and child labor, with Chinese companies playing a significant role in the market. Despite generating immense wealth, over 70% of the Congolese population lives below the poverty line, with reports indicating government involvement in the illicit cobalt trade.
Insights
- The Democratic Republic of Congo is a major source of cobalt, but ethical concerns such as hazardous mining conditions and child labor are prevalent due to the surge in global demand for the mineral, leading to exploitation and poverty in the region.
- Chinese companies dominate the cobalt market, often obtaining the mineral through opaque and black-market channels in Congo, highlighting the complex web of economic interests and exploitation that contribute to the ongoing issues surrounding cobalt sourcing and production.
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Recent questions
Where is cobalt primarily sourced from?
Congo
What is the global demand for cobalt?
Surged
Who plays a significant role in the cobalt market?
Chinese companies
What percentage of the Congolese population lives below the poverty line?
Over 70%
What are the ethical concerns surrounding cobalt mining in Congo?
Hazardous conditions, child labor
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Summary
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Cobalt mining in Congo fuels ethical concerns.
- Cobalt, a crucial component in batteries for electric cars and smartphones, is primarily sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where ethical concerns arise due to hazardous mining conditions, including child labor.
- The global demand for cobalt has surged, with its value nearly tripling in the past year, leading to a race to extract as much of the mineral as possible through industrial mining or manual labor.
- Chinese companies play a significant role in the cobalt market, with most of the mineral being exported to China for refining into batteries, often acquired through opaque and black-market channels in Congo.
- Despite the immense wealth generated by cobalt in Congo, over 70% of the population lives below the poverty line, with reports suggesting that the Congolese government, including the presidential guard, actively protects and benefits from the illicit cobalt trade.
