The horror of cobalt mining in DR Congo

The horror of cobalt mining in DR Congo
Cobalt is one of the most in-demand minerals in the world today. It’s used in the batteries of smartphones, laptops and electric cars.
Most of the global supply of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, either through big industrial mines or the unregulated sector known as 'artisanal' mines.
But covering cobalt extraction in the DRC is notoriously difficult which makes it hard to know what conditions the miners are working under.
In limited news coverage, we hear stories of child labour, hazardous mines and exploitation. But the mining and big tech companies that profit from these supply chains contest the allegations.