Cobalt Mining in the Congo: How Emerging Technologies Result in Devastating Effects
The ever-growing demand for cobalt for lithium batteries means creating a faster supply chain. Cobalt is only found via mining, most of which is sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The technological world is seeing major developments with the recent release of Tesla’s new ‘Cybertruck’ and the upcoming release of the iPhone 16. These futuristic advancements have enamored Western consumers for years. Touchscreen phones, computers, tablets, and electric cars quickly became engrained in everyday life.
However, buyers are often unaware of the humanitarian crisis behind these inventions.
Companies like Apple, Tesla, Dell, Microsoft, and Google all rely on lithium-ion batteries for their products. The batteries are made with a pure metal called cobalt. Cobalt has high energy density and can withstand high temperatures, allowing batteries to last longer.
ABC News states that Congo produces an estimated 70% of the world’s cobalt. As a result, foreign companies quickly expanded industrial mining in the country.
The Cost of Cobalt Mining
Exploitation of the Congo
The expansion meant displacing entire neighborhoods and communities where large areas of cobalt lay underneath. The New Yorker reported that in 2017, people residing in a small village, Kasulo, were given only two weeks to evacuate their homes. This event occurred after a politician granted Chinese company Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. mineral rights at Kasulo in 2015.
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China found that Chinese companies own 80% of Congo’s cobalt reserves. China also manufactures lithium-ion batteries more than any other country.
Despite having large amounts of resources, Congo is one of the poorest countries in the world. Congolese people trying to make ends meet often turn to mining. Work permits are provided to these job-seekers; however, large groups of people often mine around sites.
Dangerous Working Conditions
Commonly known as “artisanal miners,” these people informally work for various employers who pay them one or two dollars for their labor. Thousands of people work at these sites to make money. Artisanal miners are subjected to dangerous and inhumane conditions when mining. This includes having no proper tools and using their bare hands to extract materials.
With no proper equipment or clothing, miners expose themselves to the radioactive, toxic metals found in the raw materials. With prolonged exposure, the chances of health and birth defects increase. The CDC states that exposure to cobalt may cause cancer and harm the eyes, skin, heart, and lungs.
Child Labor Trafficking in Cobalt Mining
The tunnels created in the mines are also prone to collapse due to the lack of proper safety measures and unstable ground. Attempting to save those buried underneath is incredibly dangerous, especially without any equipment.
Impoverished families are susceptible to this practice because of the few work opportunities. For them, not mining meant not eating for the day. Because the little pay is not enough to feed an entire family, children also mine alongside their parents. National Public Radio cites that children are also trafficked and forced into the mines to make money for militia groups.
Children work long, grueling hours to provide for their families or traffickers. Children are often taught how to dig and wash cobalt when they are old enough to walk. Although child labor is illegal in Congo, the government has yet to take steps to end their exploitation.
Though these artisanal miners do not directly work for official cobalt companies, their employers sell the unethically sourced materials to the same companies. The supply chain then contains cobalt from licensed workers and artisanal miners without distinguishing how and where it was resourced.
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What is Being Done Internationally
The exploitation continues because the Congolese government has no regulations or interventions. In 2019, former miners from Congo and International Rights Advocates (IRA) sued Tesla, Apple, Google, Dell, and Microsoft for continuing to buy from suppliers who use child labor. Originally dismissed in Washington, the lawsuit went to the US Court of Appeals in 2024.
The plaintiff sought to hold each company liable for knowingly encouraging and funding the illegal practices of the mines. The lawsuit included testimonies from former miners who shared stories of the dangerous conditions they endured and the lives they lost along the way.
Ultimately, the court rejected the appeal and ruled that there was insufficient evidence to uphold their claims.
This loss highlights the struggle to find justice for a situation that has not been resolved.
How We Can Make a Difference
Spreading awareness about this issue mobilizes others to put social pressure on companies and governments profiting off cobalt mining. The hashtag #FreeCongo recently gained traction on social media after photos and videos of these mines showed the horrific conditions. Advocates from the movement suggest boycotting tech empires that rely on lithium-ion batteries and fund the supply chain.
Western society has normalized the hyper-consumerist mindset, which encourages excessive and impulsive buying. Instead of giving in to temptation and purchasing a new computer, think about how exactly it was made: a small child working long hours to extract materials for the device.
Ceasing to buy from companies actively purchasing lithium-ion batteries or using them in their products would lower the demand for cobalt. This would also encourage politicians and companies to make drastic efforts to clean the supply chain.
This can be difficult to avoid since all of our phones and computers are made of this material. So, if you can’t avoid it entirely, try reducing how often you buy new devices. Avoid getting the latest phone or upgraded device every year. And when you do get new devices, make sure you’re turning them into a reputable e-waste recycling program.
#GetinMotion with #FreeCongo and Addressing Cobalt Mining
Organizations dedicated to aiding the people of Congo exist to provide basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. The UN Refugee Agency works globally to assist those seeking asylum and accepts donations on its website to assist families fleeing the country.
Another organization, Fair Cobalt Alliance, commits itself to improving work conditions, creating job opportunities, and ending child labor in Congo. The website details the steps they’re taking to achieve their goals. Become a member on their website to support those suffering in Congo.
Social media users have also used their platforms to raise awareness of this situation and support initiatives to end the oppression. The Slow Factory posts informative information concerning Congo. Follow The Slow Factory on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit their website.
Friends of the Congo also regularly posts updates about Congo, including links to donate and petition for the #FreeCongo movement. Be sure to follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and visit their website.
You can also sign petitions like this one from Change.org.
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