The global significance of the DRC’s battery metals

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to a variety of key metals and minerals, including cobalt, lithium and the 3T’s (tin, tungsten and tantalum), all of which are forecast to see rapid demand increases as the battery metals market grows. Not only are these minerals abundant in the DRC, but are already being mined or are in the process of development.

Growing international awareness has prompted companies to carry out proper due diligence processes for their supply chain when sourcing tin, tantalum and tungsten from the DRC. Through this due diligence, companies also ensure that their sourcing practices do not fuel conflict in the DRC.

Of equal importance is the need to help secure the livelihoods of 3T miners by bringing formalisation to the artisanal and small scale mining sector and increasing transparency and best practice in the extraction and trade of minerals from the DRC.

Listen to a recording of the webinar hosted by Mining Review Africa and DRC Mining Week in which experts, Mickael Daudin from non-governmental organisation Pact and Dharam Kotecha from conflict-free mineral trader Halcyon Inc., unpacked the importance of ensuring a transparent and conflict-free battery metals supply chain in the DRC.

Key discussion points included:

• Understanding the benefits of developing these metals in the DRC, and not another region
• Responsible sourcing of these key metals and minerals – how this may impact on demand from the DRC
• The benefits of the responsible sourcing of 3T’s and cobalt on artisanal miners and local communities near the mines
• The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tin and cobalt supply chain in the DRC