Cobalt Supply Chain to a Hell on Earth
April 25, 2023 7:15 PM Subscribe
The race for high-tech metals has sparked a cobalt boom in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has come at a steep human cost.
e360: You talk about “industrial” mines and “artisanal” mines. What does that latter word mean?
Kara: The term is just nonsensical in its inaccuracy. It makes you think of craftsmen or people baking bread or something. In fact, it’s grindingly poor people scraping and scrounging in pits and trenches with pickaxes, shovels, their bare hands, strips of rebar... And that’s called artisanal mining, meaning people with their hands as opposed to heavy equipment.
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e360: You talk about “industrial” mines and “artisanal” mines. What does that latter word mean?
Kara: The term is just nonsensical in its inaccuracy. It makes you think of craftsmen or people baking bread or something. In fact, it’s grindingly poor people scraping and scrounging in pits and trenches with pickaxes, shovels, their bare hands, strips of rebar... And that’s called artisanal mining, meaning people with their hands as opposed to heavy equipment.
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In recent (and definitely related) news: Apple will use 100 percent recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025.
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 8:52 PM on April 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Back At It Again At Krispy Kreme at 8:52 PM on April 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
Fully Charged did quite a good episode about cobalt.
posted by rongorongo at 2:53 AM on April 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by rongorongo at 2:53 AM on April 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
I was once asked if I wanted to travel to the DRC to review IT operations at a mine. It sounded like an amazing trip...until I did basic research into the security situation, the working conditions at the mines, the general FUBAR nature of the mining operations etc. I declined - even though the prospect of seeing some of the national parks was tempting. The Congolese deserve better.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 8:07 AM on April 26, 2023
posted by inflatablekiwi at 8:07 AM on April 26, 2023
related: 'South Sudan: Brimming with potential, safe and open for business'
Feb 7, 2023
"Unlike the oil sector, from which South Sudan inherited a mature industry complete with access to infrastructure, including several pipelines extending north through Sudan to the Red Sea, mining has remained untapped until recently.
According to Minister of Mines Hon. Martin G. Abucha, the country has an array of mineral offerings, ranging from clean green tech metals, such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, gold, rare earth and industrial minerals, such as limestone, sand and silica."
posted by clavdivs at 8:09 AM on April 26, 2023
Feb 7, 2023
"Unlike the oil sector, from which South Sudan inherited a mature industry complete with access to infrastructure, including several pipelines extending north through Sudan to the Red Sea, mining has remained untapped until recently.
According to Minister of Mines Hon. Martin G. Abucha, the country has an array of mineral offerings, ranging from clean green tech metals, such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, gold, rare earth and industrial minerals, such as limestone, sand and silica."
posted by clavdivs at 8:09 AM on April 26, 2023
There are other conflict minerals.
Tantalum is one. Every cell phone uses a small amount.
posted by yyz at 12:13 PM on April 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Tantalum is one. Every cell phone uses a small amount.
posted by yyz at 12:13 PM on April 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
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if you want even more tragic and heartbreaking stories of the collateral effects of mining in the dem rep of congo, try the documentary "city of joy" available on netflix. so much tragedy and violence but also beautiful resilience and hope. imdb
posted by danjo at 7:47 PM on April 25, 2023 [3 favorites]