How cobalt mining became a disaster for Congolese communities | DW News

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the town of Kolwezi sits on huge reserves of cobalt, which is a crucial ingredient in rechargeable batteries that power electric vehicles, mobile phones and laptops. But it has proved disastrous for the community.

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[nevarran]

To have one of the most valuable resources in the world and just give it away to corrupt foreign companies. Madness. The corruption levels in Africa are beyond comprehension.

[tajmajal]

Greedy owners of mining companies all over the world are the same: only money counts; human lives and the environment are worthless. May all those who are victimized by these evil people get justice.

[bobthegamer]

We are watching this with our phones and computers

[Soraviel]

Its a shame my country DRC 🇨🇩 is still being abused by our own government and corrupt international business men and women who have evil interests in seeing congolese people suffer further...while these evil people profit (massively from this exploitation).

[laetitiavisagie-ggkk]

The Government of the DRC must be brought to account for allowing these mining companies to run rampant in their country

[sharksk]

It's time to sanction these Mining companies....

[RaymondAngT]

How about nickel mining in Borneo, Indonesia?

[Mr.Clownensky]

West expliot these poor people to be able for them to live healthy "green" living 🤡🤡🤡 hypocrisy at its finest

[IloveCamels]

This is horrible! With all the money they are making from the mining the very least they can do is to move the people to a brand new development with all the amenities and give them a good new life. Burning down their houses is despicable. National guard or not these are criminal actions! But the day will come that they will have to account for their doings 😔

[maxsmith]

The problem for Africa is that its full of things the 1st world wants and it has no political, economical, legal or military capacity to protect its citizens or society from being exploited. Even DW will not name and shame the companies that buy the resources from DRC.

[patrickrichard]

It is sad that the mining companies were not named. We, through them, are the beneficiaries of resource extraction and they get access to those resources from the local government. Yes, it would cost us more to have the residents properly relocated, but so be it.

[andrasnemeth]

Why dont they say that all cobalt mining companies in Congo owned by chinese companies and Glencore from Switzerland. Dont try to make EU citizens feel guilty
for this as well...

[monicalarkin]

The Chinese government is at fault in this situation! No osha safety regulations are followed. and the Congolese people live in abject poverty in the one of the richest deposits of cobalt in the world!

[seanlander]

Australia produces cobalt ethically. So why does Europe and China insist on unethical cobalt from the DRC for the same price?

[SqArno]

The issue of Cobalt in the DRC is always framed as an issue with EVs. It's not entirely true. Only about half of cobalt demand is for batteries. Even gas turbines need cobalt in alloys for the turbine blades. Jet turbines obviously as well. Many ceramics and glazes. The list goes on and on.

[Heshhion]

Can we stop blaming tech becoming environmentally friendly and start blaming the countries government for not taking care of their own, ffs!

[SmokeyStoner]

Where one person profits another 10 suffer.

[TheLivirus]

Thank you for covering this!
A bit late, but I guess better late than never.

[sharksk]

Really!!!! Why don't you provide the name of these

[shukabol]

I feel anger when i see Foreign companies Stealing minerals in Africa and Enriching themselves while we Africans are living in abject poverty. We are looking for jobs abroad and yet we have rich continent.