The Congolese Cartel: How the DRC Controls the Global Battery Industry
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is not just a victim of exploitation by China, the US, and Europe. It’s a master of its own destiny, manipulating the global battery industry to its advantage. Our research reveals how the DRC government, through its influence over the cobalt market, has the power to shape the entire industry – and how locals are left to suffer in poverty, pollution, and danger.
Cobalt: The Lifeblood of Electric Vehicles
Cobalt is the critical mineral powering the electric vehicle revolution. The DRC is the single largest producer, accounting for 70% of global cobalt production. But while the world rushes to adopt electric vehicles, the DRC’s poor and vulnerable communities are paying the price.
Government Control
The DRC government has a stranglehold on the cobalt industry. It can halt production, renegotiate contracts, and even seize profits from artisanal miners. In 2022, the government suspended exports from the largest Chinese-owned cobalt mine, temporarily shutting down 10% of global cobalt production.
Local Politics Matter
Local politics can also wreak havoc on production. When the DRC’s national government cancelled contracts with artisanal cobalt miners, Chinese operators were caught in the middle. The situation was resolved only after lengthy negotiations between the Chinese and Congolese governments.
Miners’ Lives Are in Danger
Meanwhile, artisanal miners, including children, are toiling in hazardous conditions. Up to 50% of their revenue is seized by cooperatives controlled by powerful politicians. An estimated 40,000 children are laboring in DRC’s artisanal cobalt mines, exposed to radioactive gas and collapsing mine pits.
The Solution
The electric vehicle revolution is not just a matter of scientific innovation or great power politics. It requires a global effort to address the human cost of battery production. Policymakers, companies, and citizens must recognize the DRC’s agency in the industry and work towards fairer contracts, more local value-added, and better lives for the people who are mining the minerals that power our future.
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About the Authors:
Raphael Deberdt is a postdoctoral fellow at the Colorado School of Mines, and Jessica DiCarlo is an assistant professor at the University of Utah.
