A humanitarian catastrophe is developing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that is linked to the world’s need for electronics. In the nation’s mining industry, tens of thousands of people including children are exploited to obtain minerals that are necessary for the everyday electronics we use.
People in the Central African nation should be benefiting from the rich natural resources on their land, instead they are suffering. On average people in the DRC live off under two dollars a day, therefore turning down work is not always an option.
Child labor is rampant in the DRC’s cobalt mining industry. An estimated 40,000 children work in mines across the country, performing hazardous tasks such as digging tunnels up to 100 meters deep, sorting minerals, and carrying heavy loads. Many of these children start working as young as seven years old. They often work without basic safety equipment, exposing them to significant health risks.
The DRC´s government has been criticized for failing to effectively regulate the mining industry and protect its citizens, especially children. Corruption and a lack of political will have allowed hazardous working conditions to persist. The state’s inability to enforce labor laws and ensure the safety of miners reflects broader systemic issues within the country’s governance structures.
Cobalt miners are exposed to high levels of toxic metals, which can lead to chronic respiratory diseases and other severe health problems according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study also notes the lack of regulatory oversight and enforcement of safety standards in artisanal mining operations.
Even those not actively mining, who live as far as a 320-kilometer radius of the sites are suffering the consequences of the demand for the so-called green batteries. Doctors and researchers have noticed a strong correlation between families living near the mines and birth defects.
A documentary by Unreported World stated that blood tests on women showing the concentration of metal in their blood indicated some of the highest levels to be recorded. The documentary explained that the thick layer of dust spreading widely around the mines impacts women in their first trimester of pregnancy.
Doctors have noticed a connection between children born with developmental conditions near mining areas. Birth defects coincide with many issues beyond health, in society some children are isolated due to fear. In the DRC many believe that birth defects are caused because of an evil power and that someone born with an abnormality is cursed, meaning that the child grows up isolated from their community and in some cases has been abandoned by the parent.
In addition, birth defects that hinder mobility can be problematic for the local population that relies on labor-intensive work. Therefore not being able to partake in physical labor can be financially debilitating for the individual and the family, who may have to work less to take on care responsibilities.
Farmers have also reported being impacted by the mines as they contaminate their surrounding rivers and crops. High concentrations of sulphuric acid have been found in rivers which ruins the surrounding soil and forcibly removes farmers from their land. Uranium has also been found in the rivers. The chemical makes fish radioactive and kills biodiversity.
The demand for cobalt spans across the globe, with major economic powers like China, the USA, and Europe playing pivotal roles in its supply chain. Cobalt from the DRC is critical for various industries, including technology and electric vehicles (EVs). Despite the high-income industry behind the mining, the extraction of this mineral is fraught with severe human rights abuses.
Cobalt is sought after because it is the only mineral that can be used as a component to produce lithium-ion batteries imperative for rechargeable batteries, which may be found in electric cars, laptops, cell phones, and e-cigarettes.
As more countries transition to renewable energy, the need for these batteries has never been stronger. Nearly all of the world´s cobalt is mined in the DRC, which raises major humanitarian issues. Companies behind the mining are hiring people, mainly children, to extract these valuable natural resources without prioritizing ethical practices.
China is a major player in the cobalt supply chain, handling approximately 80% of the world’s cobalt refining capacity. The country processes a significant portion of the raw cobalt mined in the DRC, exporting refined cobalt products to global markets, including Europe and the USA. This process involves complex supply chains that often obscure the origin of the cobalt, making it challenging to trace whether it comes from ethically run mines.
The U.S. is one of the largest consumers of cobalt globally, primarily used in batteries for EVs and consumer electronics. Although the USA imports a smaller proportion of its cobalt directly from the DRC compared to China, the country remains heavily reliant on imported cobalt products that have passed through Chinese refining facilities. This raises significant ethical concerns regarding the exploitation of children in Congolese mines.
Europe is also a major destination for the DRC´s cobalt, importing both raw materials and refined products. The European Union (EU) has been ramping up efforts to secure a sustainable supply of cobalt, crucial for its transition to renewable energy and EV production. However, the continent faces ethical dilemmas as a significant portion of its cobalt comes indirectly from the DRC after being processed in China. The EU has implemented regulations to ensure responsible sourcing of minerals, but challenges remain in effectively monitoring and enforcing these measures.
Global corporations that rely on cobalt for their products have been implicated in human rights abuses. Major tech companies, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Tesla, have been named in lawsuits for allegedly benefiting from child labor in their supply chains. A landmark lawsuit filed in the U.S. in 2019 accused these companies of aiding and abetting the exploitation of children in the DRC’s cobalt mines.
Despite these allegations, many companies have grown their supply chains. Initiatives such as the Responsible Cobalt Initiative and stricter auditing processes aim to ensure that cobalt is sourced ethically. However, reports claim that progress has been slow and inconsistent. Amnesty International has called for greater transparency and accountability from companies to ensure that their supply chains are free from child labor and other abuses.
The intersectional impacts of the cobalt mining industry and more importantly the management of it point to a bigger question; can a sustainable green future be built without exploiting others?