While tech giants such as Apple, Samsung, and Tesla record billions in yearly profits, the DRC gets poorer due to an unchecked cobalt mining system. But what if the system were regulated and promised steep penalties for erring companies?
By Michael Akuchie
It is hard to beat the feeling of buying a new smartphone or laptop, especially when it is the latest model. Likewise, the excitement of switching from a petrol-powered car to an electric vehicle (EV) is unmatched, particularly as many environmental analysts have urged people to adopt cleaner modes of mobility.
Although the gleaming device in your hands promises less lag when playing Call of Duty Mobile, and the EV glides along with minimal noise, both innovations have a past that many may find unsettling. To the average consumer, smartphones and EVs appear to come straight from factories, assembled with minerals sourced from the earth.
While this is true, the process of mining cobalt, a crucial component in the manufacture of smartphones, laptops, and EVs, is deeply concerning. Cobalt is a blue metal which, once mined, is used to produce the lithium-ion batteries that power these gadgets and vehicles.
Globally, the Democratic Republic of Congo is recognised as the largest cobalt producer, accounting for roughly 73% of the world’s cobalt output. In second place, far behind, is Indonesia, with just 7.3%.
The DRC occupies a highly strategic position in the global cobalt supply chain, as demand for the material has steadily increased. With wider smartphone adoption and growing calls for cleaner mobility, manufacturers have doubled production to meet consumer needs.
This surge in demand has led to more cobalt mining operations in countries such as the DRC and Indonesia. While this should, in theory, create more jobs for the DRC’s citizens, particularly its youth, it has instead fuelled civil wars, environmental degradation, hunger, and other negative consequences.
Although cobalt mining does provide employment for the country’s youth, the meagre salaries often fall short of the nation’s minimum wage of $2.47 per day. In addition, miners endure poor working conditions with little to no safety measures in place. According to a report by Human Trafficking Site, many cobalt miners in the DRC work with their bare hands rather than using hammer drills or shovels.
What’s more, the miners—often including women and children—work without any protective equipment, such as hard hats or face masks. This leaves them exposed to toxic air, which weakens their immune systems and puts them at risk of various respiratory illnesses. Sadly, their health challenges do not end there. Pregnant women living near areas of frequent cobalt mining face a heightened risk of giving birth to children with varying degrees of defects, due to the contamination of drinking water sources.
The pollution of these water sources in the DRC also disrupts fishing and farming. As expected, toxic water harms fish and damages the soil, making it incredibly difficult for fishermen and farmers to sustain their livelihoods. With cobalt mining as the most accessible alternative, it is unsurprising that such operations have expanded in the DRC despite low wages and unsafe working conditions.
As more countries urge their citizens to adopt EVs as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions, demand for cobalt and other raw materials used in their production continues to rise. Unfortunately, a supposedly “green innovation” like the EV is driven by a mineral that has persistently devastated the DRC.
While tech giants such as Apple, Samsung, and Tesla record billions in yearly profits, the DRC continues to grow poorer under an unchecked cobalt mining system. But what if that system were properly regulated, with steep penalties for companies that broke the rules? What could the DRC’s future look like with ethical mining in place?
The outlook for cobalt mining appears largely positive, with GlobalData estimating that global demand will reach 410.79 kt by 2030. Interestingly, this projection aligns with the European Union’s target of reducing emissions from new cars and vans by 55% and 50% respectively. The United States also aims to achieve a significant cut in carbon emissions by 2030, signalling an even greater demand for EVs.
Ideally, this trend should be good news for the DRC’s economy as it implies more jobs for citizens, a stronger economy, and a better quality of life. Unfortunately, the largely unregulated Congolese mining sector means that citizens are unlikely to benefit from increased cobalt mining operations.
Ethical mining in the DRC could help reposition the nation for economic recovery. To address concerns over wages and worker safety, the government should amend existing mining laws, making it compulsory for companies to provide workers with proper protective equipment. In addition, miners should be given modern tools for digging rather than relying on their bare hands. The government should also impose steep fines on companies that breach these regulations, forcing them to prioritise workers’ well-being at all times.
The DRC currently misses out on most of the profits from cobalt mining, largely because the mineral is not processed locally. Once cobalt is mined, it is shipped to processing plants in China, where it is used to produce lithium-ion batteries for smartphones and EVs. To strengthen its revenue base, the DRC should seriously consider establishing cobalt processing plants across the country. This would not only elevate its position in the global cobalt supply chain but also create more jobs for its youth.
Aside from working as miners, both skilled and unskilled youth could seek employment in processing plants. With the creation of new job opportunities, the unemployment rate would fall, making it less likely for young people to be drawn into armed conflict. A peaceful nation is far more attractive to foreign investors, so the DRC must prioritise providing its youth with stable employment in order to foster lasting peace. Although the DRC has yet to announce concrete plans to process cobalt and other minerals locally, the EU is reportedly exploring the possibility of supporting the country in building a “Global Gateway” cobalt processing plant.
Waste disposal remains a major concern in developing nations, and the DRC is no exception. In areas where used electronics such as smartphones and laptops are discarded indiscriminately (sometimes near water sources), local communities face increased risks of illness, while newborn babies face higher chances of birth defects. One way to reduce reliance on cobalt mining in the DRC is to encourage technology companies to prioritise e-waste recycling.
Instead of depending solely on cobalt for manufacturing new devices, these companies could invest in e-waste recycling initiatives in the DRC and across Africa, repurposing reusable components from discarded electronics to produce new ones.
Tech companies have a crucial role to play in the transition to ethical mining in the DRC. To begin with, they should allocate capital towards the development of mining communities. This could include building schools and hospitals equipped with modern infrastructure, thereby providing residents with access to quality education and healthcare.
Efforts must also be made to prevent the pollution of water sources in mining areas. By investing in the drilling of clean water wells, tech companies can help ensure that Congolese communities remain healthy. They can also lend active support to both local and international NGOs working to raise awareness about exploitative cobalt mining, signalling solidarity with a just cause.
As the world races to embrace clean mobility options such as EVs, it is important to acknowledge that these technologies are built on the sweat of hardworking Congolese miners—sometimes including children. It is deeply unjust that a country contributing so significantly to global cobalt demand remains mired in poverty while tech corporations record ever-higher profits.
Current and future conversations around sustainable energy must include ethical mining. Those who risk their lives to dig for cobalt in the DRC must be protected through fair mining regulations. Equally, their environment must be safeguarded from pollution to ensure a healthier future for the next generation of Congolese people.
Michael Akuchie is a tech journalist with five years of experience covering cybersecurity, AI, automotive trends, and startups. He reads human-angle stories in his spare time. He’s on X (fka Twitter) as @Michael_Akuchie & michael_akuchie on Instagram.
Cover photo credit: The Economist