Cobalt, Congo and the Mining Conundrum

Cobalt, one of the main minerals used in battery technology, is a key component of the energy transition to carbon net zero. The cobalt market is expected to skyrocket, with the vast majority of cobalt being sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, with small-scale or artisanal mining in a country associated with child labor and inhumane working conditions, significant issues have arisen around the use of this critical mineral.