Illegal cobalt mining in the Congo - How batteries are powered by child labor | DW Documentary

Cobalt Mining in the DRC: Child Labor, Realities, and Solutions

Key Concepts:

• Cobalt mining: Extraction of cobalt, a vital component in batteries, particularly for electric vehicles.
• Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): Informal mining operations, often unregulated and employing manual labor.
• Child labor: The employment of children in hazardous and exploitative work, particularly in cobalt mines.
• Supply chain: The network of processes involved in producing and distributing cobalt, from extraction to manufacturing.
• Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA): An organization promoting responsible sourcing and improved working conditions in cobalt mining.
• Remediation programs: Initiatives aimed at addressing the negative impacts of child labor and supporting affected children and families.

1. The Reality of Cobalt Mining in the DRC

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds over half of the world's cobalt reserves, making it a crucial source for the metal.
• Cobalt is essential for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones, and other devices. The International Energy Agency projects over 40% of new cars sold worldwide will be electric by 2030, increasing demand.
• Artisanal mining is prevalent, with miners extracting cobalt by hand in unregulated and hazardous conditions.
• Accusations of child labor in cobalt mines are frequent, often depicted in mass media with images of children in ragged clothes.
• The extent of child labor is a complex issue, with varying roles children play in and around the mines.

2. Investigating Child Labor at the Shabara Mine

• The video crew visits Kwazi, the "cobalt capital of the world," and the Shabara mine, a large illegal artisanal mine operating on land with mining rights held by Glen Kora.
• Alan Mushinga, the head of the mine, claims that neither pregnant women nor children work there.
• The mine employs 20,000 people in total, with 5,000 per shift. Workers operate in groups of five, determining their hours and dividing profits from selling the rocks.
• Safety precautions are minimal, with no hard hats, gloves, or reinforced boots. However, the mine has a cafeteria, toilets, and drinking water.
• Jesus Freeman, a 46-year-old miner, earns up to $300 a day due to his experience and knowledge of cobalt and copper veins. He owns four houses and supports two wives and ten children.
• Most miners earn only a few dollars a day, but this is still more than the average income in the DRC.

3. Addressing Child Labor Concerns and Misinformation

• The mine operators express anger and frustration over Tik Tok videos falsely depicting child labor at their mine.
• Signs at the Shabara mine state that pregnant women and those under 18 are barred from entering.
• The mine operators argue that children are physically unable to perform the demanding work of carrying heavy sacks.
• Agata Bukasa, executive director of the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA), emphasizes the need for nuanced understanding of the roles children play in the supply chain.
• Children are often found selling food, transporting goods, or peddling gasoline near the mines.
• Smaller children under 12 are often with their mothers, who provide auxiliary services to the miners.

4. The Role of the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA)

• The FCA aims to improve the lives of mining communities, change the face of ASM, and integrate responsibly sourced ASM into the supply chain.
• The FCA brings together stakeholders, including Tesla, Glenor, and NGOs, to address the challenges of cobalt mining.
• The FCA recognizes the urgency and need for change in the cobalt mining sector.

5. The Broader Impact of Cobalt Mining

• Journalist Mik Tangga documents the environmental and social consequences of cobalt mining, including the destruction of parks, rivers, and residential areas.
• Residential homes are damaged by detonations from nearby mines, with little or no government or mine operator intervention.
• Cemeteries are desecrated as mining operations expand, disregarding local customs and traditions.

6. Remediation Efforts and Support for Children

• Tesla supports an NGO called "the hub" in Kowzee, which provides alternatives to working in the mining sector for 28 children and their families.
• The hub provides financial assistance and long-term support to families to compensate for the loss of income from child labor.
• Adetanimu, a social worker at the hub, visits families to assess their needs and ensure the children are committed to their education.
• The hub's remediation programs focus on long-term care for children up to the age of 16.
• Dorma, a Swiss company, partners with Save the Children Switzerland and the hub, providing around a million euros over the next decade.

7. Supply Chain Transparency and Accountability

• Almost all cobalt extracted in the DRC, from both legal and illegal mines, is mixed together and exported to China.
• This makes tracing the exact origins of cobalt extremely difficult.
• Apple CEO Tim Cook claims that Apple has an intense level of tracing in its supply chain to ensure that the cobalt used in its products is not mined using child labor.
• However, critics argue that the cobalt supply chain is fragmented and not transparent, making it difficult to guarantee the absence of child labor.

8. Perspectives and Solutions

• Protests call for international financial institutions (IFIs) to stop financing extractivism in the Congo.
• Disengagement from the cobalt industry is not the solution, as it can harm the most vulnerable.
• Guskal Freeman's family is entirely reliant on his income from cobalt mining, and he ensures that his children attend school instead of working in the mines.
• He dreams of a future where children are cared for and educated instead of being forced to work in the mines.

9. Conclusion

The video highlights the complex realities of cobalt mining in the DRC, including the prevalence of artisanal mining, the challenges of child labor, and the environmental and social consequences. While accusations of child labor are frequent, the situation is nuanced, with children playing various roles in and around the mines. The Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) and remediation programs like "the hub" are working to improve working conditions, support affected children and families, and promote responsible sourcing. However, greater transparency and accountability are needed throughout the cobalt supply chain to ensure that the metal is not mined using child labor or at the expense of local communities and the environment.