Mining Review Africa

Targeted interventions have large impact on DRC artisanal cobalt sector

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is the world’s largest producer of mined cobalt, is facing increased pressure to ensure that its artisanal and small scale mining sector, which accounts for 15% – 20% of the country’s cobalt production, produces in a responsible and transparent manner.

Prof. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, Director of the GSEM Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights, noted that the center’s research on global supply chains pointed to the chain being only as strong as its weakest link. Because distinguishing between large and small scale Cobalt mining sectors in the DRC is difficult due to the nature of the business environment, Prof. Baumann-Pauly highlighted that solutions to the human rights risks in the artisanal and small scale mining sector need to be found at the source.

> To read the Mining Review Africa article, please click on the link