Mining industry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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The mining industry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: Industrie minière de la République Démocratique du Congo) is a major global supplier of minerals including cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold, tantalum, and tin. The DRC supplies over 70% of global cobalt and mineral exports account for more than 95% of the country’s export revenues.[1]
Mining includes large-scale industrial projects, semi-industrial ventures, and widespread artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), often under dangerous and exploitative conditions.[2]
Regulation
[edit]The DRC’s mining sector operates under a revised mining code, passed in 2018, which increased royalties and taxes compared to the 2002 code. Despite opposition from mining companies, the reforms aimed to boost government revenues.[3]
Mining types
[edit]Industrial mining
[edit]Large industrial mines are typically joint ventures between foreign firms and DRC parastatals such as Gécamines. Permits are administered through the Cadastre Minier (CAMI). Industrial mining requires major investments and long development times.
Artisanal and semi-industrial mining
[edit]Artisanal miners operate outside formal regulation despite the establishment of Artisanal Exploitation Zones (AEZs). Most use hand tools under hazardous conditions, including widespread child labour. Semi-industrial mining uses some mechanization but remains distinct from large-scale industrial operations.[4]
Environmental and human rights concerns
[edit]Mining in the DRC has caused environmental degradation, water pollution, and severe public health issues. Research in Katanga found dangerously high levels of cobalt and uranium in residents.[5][6]
Efforts like the iTSCi traceability initiative and OECD guidelines exist, but enforcement remains weak.[7]
Major commodities
[edit]Copper and cobalt
[edit]Most mining occurs in the Copperbelt region. Cobalt, vital for electric vehicle batteries, is sourced from both industrial and artisanal mines. The government created Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) to regulate artisanal cobalt production.[8]
Diamonds
[edit]The DRC is among the largest diamond producers by volume, mostly through artisanal mining. A significant share of production is industrial-grade.[9]
Gold
[edit]Gold mining is concentrated in eastern provinces. Gold smuggling across borders, particularly to Uganda and Rwanda, finances armed groups.[10]
Lithium
[edit]The Manono-Kitotolo region holds large lithium deposits under development.[11]
3T minerals (Tantalum, Tin, Tungsten)
[edit]The so-called 3T minerals—tantalum, tin, and tungsten—are mined artisanally in the eastern DRC.[12]
Foreign involvement
[edit]International companies from Canada, China, and Australia dominate mining investment. Chinese firms, backed by the Belt and Road Initiative, are expanding their role.[13]
Socio-economic and environmental impacts
[edit]Mining activities have led to widespread forced eviction, labour exploitation, child labour, sexual violence, displacement, and environmental degradation.[14][15]
History
[edit]Pre-colonial mining
[edit]Indigenous peoples mined copper and other minerals for centuries. The Katanga Cross is an example of early copper metallurgy.
Colonial and post-colonial periods
[edit]Under Belgian colonial rule, mineral exploitation intensified, often through forced labor. Post-independence, mining became central to conflicts, contributing to decades of instability.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "New initiative to support artisanal cobalt mining in the DRC". Mining Review. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
- ^ Udell, Joe (2023). "Environmental Destruction and Human Rights Abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo". Minnesota Journal of International Law. 32 (1): 197–238.
- ^ "DR Congo signs new mining law despite companies' opposition". BBC News. 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
- ^ Making Mining Safe and Fair: Artisanal cobalt extraction in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Report). World Economic Forum. September 15, 2020. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "Sustainability of artisanal mining of cobalt in DR Congo". Nature Sustainability. 1 (9): 495–504. 2018. doi:10.1038/s41893-018-0139-4.
- ^ "Assessment of soil metal distribution and environmental impact of mining in Katanga". Applied Geochemistry. 64: 43–55. 2016. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2015.07.012.
- ^ "ITSCI: A decade of success". Pact. 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "Congo mines minister seeks to cancel artisanal cobalt monopoly". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "Inside the Democratic Republic of Congo's Diamond Mines". Time. 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "The Bloodiest Trade: Conflict Minerals in the DRC". Penn Political Review. 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "Lithium mining in DRC could make it a top global supplier". The Africa Report. 2021-06-22. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "Conflict minerals and battery materials supply chains: A mapping review of responsible sourcing initiatives". The Extractive Industries and Society. 8 (4): 100935. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.exis.2021.100935. S2CID 236622724.
- ^ "China's Belt and Road Initiative". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "Forced evictions at cobalt and copper mines in the DRC". Amnesty International. 2023-09-11. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
- ^ "How 'modern-day slavery' in the Congo powers the rechargeable battery economy". NPR. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2024-05-02.