The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the world's dominant cobalt producer, accounting for approximately 70% of global mine production. The Katanga Province (now Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces) hosts the world's richest cobalt deposits, including the Tenke Fungurume, Mutanda, and Kamoto mines. The DRC is classified as a conflict-affected and high-risk area (CAHRA) under the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, creating mandatory due diligence obligations for all companies sourcing cobalt from the country.
Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)
The DRC cobalt sector is characterised by a large artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, with an estimated 150,000–200,000 artisanal miners operating in the Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces. ASM cobalt is associated with significant human rights risks including child labour, unsafe working conditions, and exposure to toxic dust. The International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF have documented widespread child labour in DRC cobalt ASM, with children as young as 6 working in mining pits.
Key Mining Operations
| Mine | Operator | Type | Annual Cobalt Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenke Fungurume | CMOC (China) | Large-scale industrial | ~17,000 t Co |
| Mutanda | Glencore | Large-scale industrial | ~25,000 t Co |
| Kamoto (KCC) | Glencore | Large-scale industrial | ~10,000 t Co |
| Kipushi | Ivanhoe Mines / Gécamines | Large-scale industrial | ~5,000 t Co |
| ASM sector | Multiple | Artisanal | ~15,000–20,000 t Co |
Responsible Sourcing Frameworks in the DRC
Several initiatives operate in the DRC to improve cobalt sourcing practices: the Responsible Cobalt Initiative (RCI) convenes downstream companies to improve ASM conditions; the Fair Cobalt Alliance supports ASM formalisation and child labour elimination; the OECD-ICGLR-UN GoE Regional Certification Mechanism provides a government-to-government framework for conflict mineral certification.