Cobalt is a vital component of modern technology, and much of it originates from the Congo. But not everything is as it should be in the African country. Now several organizations are trying to tighten the control of cobalt production.
Batteries for electric cars, smartphones and much other modern technology often contain cobalt. And therefore the rare mineral plays a decisive role in the global green transition.
But behind the technological dreams of the future hides a slightly more gloomy reality. Especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the majority of the world's cobalt is mined.
In the Congo, the dream of sustainable energy comes at a human and environmental cost. Large parts of cobalt production are characterized by slave labour, corruption and illegal mining.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), thousands of children work in dangerous conditions in Congo's mines, while organized crime and smuggling routes steal billions from the Congolese state.
The ILO has launched the so-called GALAB project to combat child labor in the country's mines. The project builds on previous initiatives such as COTECCO and aims to remove children from the mines and ensure a future without forced labour.
Using systems such as the Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS), more than 6,200 children have been registered as workers in the mines of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba. But the problem extends beyond child labour.
Many mines are operated illegally, often in areas without government control. Local communities pay protection money to armed groups to gain access to the mines, and smugglers exploit the border areas with Zambia and Tanzania, where bribes and forged documents pave the way for illegal exports.
According to ISS Africa, Congo loses almost $1 billion a year to illegal mining and exports – money that could be used to develop the country's economy and fight poverty.
Although the government has introduced rules to regulate the sector, enforcement is lacking.
Many miners also work without safety equipment, which leads to serious health problems such as cancer and respiratory diseases. Unfortunately, mining also leaves toxic residues from production in water and soil.
Cobalt from Congo finds its way to some of the world's largest battery manufacturers, including China's CATL , which is one of the leading suppliers of electric car batteries to well-known car brands worldwide.
These producers are an important part of the supply chain for the green transition, but they risk contributing to the serious human rights abuses and environmental problems associated with extraction in the Congo.
Despite several initiatives to create responsible cobalt trade, it is still difficult to trace the origin of the minerals and ensure that they have been extracted under proper conditions.
Illegal mining also goes hand in hand with corruption. Soldiers and police officers, who should actually stay away from the mines, often take part in the illegal activities themselves.
Some resell minerals for their own profit, while others provide protection to smugglers. The toxic cocktail of lawlessness and desperation creates an opaque supply chain where it is almost impossible to trace the origin of minerals. This is written by the organizations ISS and ILO.
To solve the problems, action is required at several levels. According to ISS Africa, the government must tighten controls on the mines, fight corruption and improve economic conditions for workers and their families.
At the same time, companies must take responsibility and ensure that their supply chains comply with international standards. The ILO and its partners emphasize the need to create better educational opportunities and working conditions so that children can avoid the mines and adults can find sustainable sources of income.
But the road ahead is long. Congo has ambitions to become a global leader in battery production and will work with Zambia to create an economic zone for processing raw materials.
However, this vision can only be realized if at the same time investments are made in development for the many vulnerable communities that live in the shadow of cobalt production.
Cobalt's journey from Congo's mines to the world's technology is therefore not just a story of innovation. It is also a tale of human challenges and corruption.
So if the world really wants to create a green and sustainable future, according to the two organizations, it must also take responsibility for and dare to speak out about the dark shadows that follow the hunt for minerals such as cobalt.
Sources:
https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/ilo-launches-galab-project-democratic-republic-congo-address-child-labour
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rampant-cobalt-smuggling-and-corruption-deny-billions-to-drc
