The Human Cost of Cobalt Mining: Shedding Light on Congo’s Crisis
Introduction: Why Cobalt Matters to All of Us
Cobalt, a crucial mineral found in every lithium-ion battery, powers our smartphones, tablets, electric vehicles, and other essential devices. The demand for cobalt is growing rapidly as the world shifts towards greener technologies and electric vehicles. However, this surge has come at an alarming human and environmental cost in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which produces nearly 75% of the world’s cobalt supply.
This blog aims to raise awareness of the suffering endured by the Congolese people, drawing on insights from Siddharth Kara’s book, Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives. By understanding what happens behind the scenes of our tech-driven lives, we can push for more ethical practices in the global supply chain.
Artisanal Mining: Life in Extreme Poverty and Danger
In Cobalt Red, Kara reveals the heartbreaking reality of artisanal miners—individuals, including children as young as six, who extract cobalt by hand with basic tools like shovels and pickaxes. These miners, responsible for up to 30% of Congo’s cobalt output, work without protective equipment or tunnel supports, making mining a deadly occupation .
One of Kara’s most jarring observations is that “one of these tunnels collapses every week, burying alive everyone inside, including children.” This illustrates how artisanal mining is a ticking time bomb where workers risk their lives daily to earn a meager income of just a few dollars.
Environmental Devastation and Exploitation of Communities
Kara highlights the devastating environmental consequences caused by industrial cobalt extraction. Mining operations have clear-cut millions of trees, polluted water sources, and left behind toxic contaminants, creating long-term ecological damage. The Central African Copper Belt, where most cobalt is found, resembles a landscape of open-pit mines swallowing entire towns, like Kolwezi.
The irony is painful: While the world embraces electric vehicles to combat climate change, the people of the Congo bear the environmental and health burdens of extraction. As Kara points out, the “green” transition is not green for those at the bottom of the supply chain.
Corporate Deception: The Illusion of Ethical Supply Chains
Global companies at the top of the supply chain, such as those producing electric vehicles and smartphones, maintain that they operate with “zero tolerance” policies on child labor and human exploitation. However, Kara exposes the fallacy of these claims. He shows that child-mined cobalt inevitably mixes with industrially mined cobalt, rendering any promise of an ethical supply chain void.
“The fictions promulgated atop of the cobalt chain are dispelled one by one,” Kara writes, as he traces cobalt through the hidden layers of supply chains, revealing how even tech giants unknowingly rely on human suffering.
A Legacy of Exploitation: History Repeating Itself
The exploitation of the Congo is not new. Kara draws a chilling parallel between today’s cobalt rush and King Leopold II’s brutal extraction of rubber from the Congo in the late 19th century. Just as Leopold’s regime devastated communities to supply rubber for car tires, today’s demand for cobalt once again subjects the Congolese people to inhumane conditions for the benefit of wealthy nations.
Conclusion: How We Can Make a Difference
The stories and testimonies Kara shares in Cobalt Red paint a harrowing picture of suffering, but they also offer a call to action. As consumers, we can demand more transparency from companies profiting from cobalt and advocate for fairer labor practices. Organizations and policymakers need to ensure that the transition to green energy does not perpetuate hidden exploitation.
Change is possible only when we acknowledge the hidden costs of the devices we use daily. By raising awareness, supporting ethical initiatives, and demanding accountability from corporations, we can contribute to a future where the people of Congo are not forced to sacrifice their lives and environment to power our world.
Take Action: Spread the Message
Please share this post with your network to raise awareness about the human cost of cobalt mining. It’s time we hold companies accountable and push for sustainable solutions that protect both the environment and human rights.
For further reading, I highly recommend picking up Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara—a powerful, deeply researched book that will leave you both outraged and inspired to act.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you made it to the end, I would love to hear from you! 
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu – May All Beings Be Happy and Free 