The Democratic Republic of Congo is considered one of the richest countries in natural resources in the world. However, with an economy that mainly depends on the mining of rare metals such as nickel and cobalt, it is ranked as the 8th poorest country. The situation is quite complex and there is even talk of “geological ineptitude”.
The country is the second largest hydropower producer in Africa with 53% of the continent’s hydropower potential. It is also one of the world’s largest producers of nickel, chromium, gold, oil, diamonds, copper… But it is above all the overabundance of cobalt, i.e. 70% of known world reserves. , which is the strength of the DRC today.
Cobalt is a popular metal in the production of lithium-ion batteries that can now be found everywhere from smartphones to electric cars. However, this dependence of the DRC vis-à-vis the cobalt market can quickly prove to be a handicap in the event of unforeseen circumstances. The suspension of the exploitation of the country’s largest cobalt mine, Mutanda, by Glencore in 2019 had an immediate impact on the country’s GDP of 2%.
Another major problem increases the difficulty of exploiting these resources in the best possible way, it is the presence of many illegal miners who occupy the mines illegally, and practice a parallel trade in cobalt. More than 200,000 illegal artisanal miners are estimated there and they work in non-respected working conditions (pollution, child labor, mistreatment, etc.). Widespread corruption among these miners makes the formalization of artisanal mines very difficult.
To optimize the exploitation of these riches more serenely, Kinshasa has turned to large mining multinationals such as the CMOC group. The latter provide their know-how as well as decent and environmentally friendly working conditions for employees.
Indeed, multinationals offer their employees a secure working environment by following international laws. They prohibit abuse, child labor and guarantee a number of rights to their employees. They also offer the possibility of relocating expropriated people. They build clinics, maternities to improve the health of local populations, but also develop the local economy and the means of subsistence.
Multinationals also provide programs to fight against communicable diseases such as HIV or malaria. They seek to replant trees to preserve the ecosystem, to develop the education of future generations. Local populations are involved, and even kept informed of all actions to ensure good communication and collaboration.
In short, mining in the DRC is a very delicate subject. It is the cause of many evils, but seems inevitable for people. However, this must be done in a way that respects people and the environment. Multinational mining companies, by offering respectful working conditions, are a solution that could tip the scales in the right direction