Problems with cobalt in Congo - 2nd December 2022

All of us use cobalt. It's in mobile phones and batteries. 70 percent comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But there are problems in the cobalt business with the 'small' miners. These miners are independent. That means they work for themselves. People say their work's dangerous. They say some workers are children. There aren't enough rules.

So, in 2019 the government started the Enterprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC). The EGC hopes to help independent miners. But the EGC will take money too. The miners dislike the EGC plans.

Jean-Réne Mbaza's the manager of some miners.

Jean-Réne Mbaza: "We try to conform. There are no pregnant women at work, there is no child labour, there is no human exploitation. There are no men in arms who make the diggers - artisanal miners - work to steal their produce."

Independent miners can make $50 a month. They sell cobalt at a trading centre. They want to keep their independence.

Antoine Dela wa Monga: "Here we are independent. Everyone comes, works independently, goes to sell the ore at the trading centre, and makes money. Compared to other mining squares where I've worked, here I work in order."

Cobalt is a billion dollar business. But the industry needs rules. Without rules, companies like Tesla and Apple won't do business.

So now things are stuck. The different sides aren't talking. One group - Fair Cobalt Alliances - hopes to bring everyone together.

David Sturmes: "And so there is a interest from miners to have a more professional setup. And a interest from governments to formalise and start generating regular tax revenue and be able to supply to the international market."