Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Environment
Oluwole Ojewale, Regional Coordinator, Institute for Security Studies

What coltan mining in the DRC costs people and the environment

Mining DRC Environment United Nations Democratic Party
Alain Libondo (17) left, and Nsinku Zihindula (25), hammering at solid rock to find cassiterite and coltan at Szibira, South Kivu. Photo by Tom Stoddart via Getty Images

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is rich in natural resources – its untapped deposits of minerals are estimated to be worth US$24 trillion. Gold, diamonds, cobalt and zinc are among them.

Another strategic mineral mined in the DRC is coltan – a name derived from “columbite-tantalite”. In 2021, the DRC’s coltan production amounted to an estimated 700 tonnes, making the Central African country the world’s largest coltan producer by far.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Nicolas Cage makes candid confession about ‘problem’ that led to awkward Chris Rock encounter
Cage says he doesn’t ‘interrupt people anymore’ after an incident on the Howard Stern Show in 2022
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
I thought testing bread makers would be easy. 36 loaves later, I may have lost the plot
Our tester pushed her love of bread, and freezer space, to the limit in pursuit of the perfect homemade loaf. Plus, the best Kindles for every budget
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
How daylight saving time changes affect you and what you can do about it
It's almost time for most Americans to set their clocks back an hour
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian Reunion Rumour: Viral 'Spotted Talking' Photo Raises Questions About Their Feud
A viral photo allegedly showing Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian talking has sparked reunion rumours, but questions remain over its authenticity
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
“Looks Like Organs”: Heidi Klum’s Grotesque Halloween Teaser Has Fans Convinced They Know Her Next Transformation
The slimy, close-up teaser for Heidi Klum’s Halloween costume this year is already making people’s stomachs churn.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
‘He’s not going to punk me. I’ll trick him’: Ali G: Who Iz I? stooge says he was in on joke but didn’t tell Sacha Baron Cohen
Exclusive: Joshua Loudermilk says suspicions first raised during filming by gun shaped like wearable plastic bottom: ‘You’re gonna put a butt on top of a butt? You can’t run in that’ • This article contains spoilers for Ali G: Who Iz I?
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play