In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), forced evictions, child labor, and health risks are only a few of the significant human costs associated with cobalt mining. The DRC provides more than 70% of the world’s cobalt supply, with artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) accounting for a sizable portion of production and using a lot of Child labor.[i]
As industrial mines grow, communities experience violent evictions that result in the loss of houses and farms without proper compensation.[ii] Increased aggression, drug misuse, and exposure to hazardous chemicals all have a negative influence on health and can lead to major problems. Systematic and societal violence is also a result of these factors.[iii] To lessen these violations of human rights, ethical sourcing procedures and the formalization of ASM are desperately needed.
Human Rights Violations and Child Labour
In the global supply chain, cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become very important, especially for the manufacture of batteries used in smartphones, electric cars, and other devices. However, there are substantial human cost associated with this economic significance that have garnered attention from around the world. Child labor is a major problem linked to cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is estimated that tens of thousands of Children works in hazardous conditions in artisanal mining. Serious concerns include exposure to toxic dust, tunnel collapses, and extended work hours without the necessary safety equipment, which affect both adults and children. Despite the strong worldwide demand for cobalt, the working conditions are dangerous and the pay is extremely poor for miners.[iv]
Exploitation and Environmental Impact
In his book “Cobalt Red,” Siddharth Kara details the hardships faced by those involved in the cobalt mining industry. He reports seeing villages devoted to artisanal mining, where militias guard the communities and child labor is common. He also notes environmental degradation, which further highlights the terrible human cost of cobalt extraction.
In his concise historical overview of Likasi, he discusses the discovery of uranium and how it was utilized to make the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Approximately 75% of the uranium used in the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki came from the Shinkolobwe mine in Likasi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where one pound of uranium was sold for one dollar. This demonstrates how the people of Congo have suffered the most as a result of the long-term exploitation of the country’s resources for some of the bloodiest and most profoundly changing historical events.[v]
Kara also talks on how informal systems of control have developed in the absence of effective governance and regulation, leading to local militias or “commandos” controlling mining areas. Some of these groups get payments from international mining companies. Kara criticizes the worldwide cobalt market, pointing out that although businesses insist they don’t get their supply from artisanal mines, the truth is far different.[vi]
The supply chains are unclear, and there is less accountability or attempt to guarantee that the cobalt used to fuel modern technology is not associated with human misery, environmental damage, or child labor.
In addition to causing soil and water contamination due to the emission of hazardous materials including heavy metals, cobalt mining has also degraded the environment. Water supplies in the area are contaminated, which has an impact on local residents’ health and agriculture. These environmental problems are made worse by the mining process, which is frequently not well regulated.
Efforts to Address the Crisis
Amnesty International and other non-governmental organizations have advocated for more stringent laws and corporate responsibility in order to end child labor and enhance safety in the cobalt mining industry. Although the DRC government has taken considerable action to control artisanal mining, enforcement is still inadequate. Furthermore, in an effort to lessen their need on cobalt, a few tech businesses are investigating the usage of substitute materials. There are still calls for international intervention to guarantee a more equitable and secure supply chain because of the human cost of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, notwithstanding these efforts. So, we have to look into ourselves, that if technology and advancement is important, then at what cost?
[i] “Forced evictions at industrial cobalt and copper mines in the DRC.” Amnesty International, 12 September 2023, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/09/drc-cobalt-and-copper-mining-for-batteries-leading-to-human-rights-abuses/. Accessed 10 October 2024.
[ii] Morris, Amanda, and Gabriel Bamana. “Understanding cobalt’s human cost – Northwestern Now.” Northwestern Now, 17 December 2021, https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2021/12/understanding-cobalts-human-cost/. Accessed 10 October 2024.
[iii] Zuckerman, Jocelyn C. “For Your Phone and EV, a Cobalt Supply Chain to a Hell on Earth.” Yale E360, 30 March 2023, https://e360.yale.edu/features/siddharth-kara-cobalt-mining-labor-congo. Accessed 10 October 2024.
[iv] Melin, Hans Eric. “COBALT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.” World Bank Documents, https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099500001312236438/pdf/P1723770a0f570093092050c1bddd6a29df.pdf. Accessed 10 October 2024.
[v] Kara, S. (2023). Cobalt red: how the blood of the Congo powers our lives. First edition. New York, St. Martin’s Press.
[vi] Ibıd.
