Copper and Cobalt

Copper
Copper is a reddish metal used for electrical wiring. In March 2007 the copper price amounted to 6130$/ton. It is estimated that the DRC stand for 12 per cent of the world's reserves of copper. Chili is currently the most important producer in the world.

Cobalt
Cobalt is a silver-grey metal used in magnetic and highly resistant alloys. In March 2007 the average price for 99,8% cobalt was 29,5$/pound. It is currently estimated that the DRC has almost half the world's cobalt reserves. Despite the poor state of its economy and infrastructure, the DRC is the most important exporter of cobalt ore in the world.

Regrettable phenomena
The mining of copper and cobalt in Sub-Sahara Africa, goes hand-in-hand with a series of regrettable phenomena. Diggers and refiners often work in very poor and unhealthy labour conditions. The gear of the artisanal miners is often limited to a shovel. In the DRC, collapsing tunnels, child labour, uranium pollution are a daily reality for an estimated 70.000 diggers who earn 1 to 3 $ a day.

Much of the ore is exported unprocessed towards China, South Africa and industrialized countries. Primitive refining with improvised furnaces causes health and environmental hazards. In formal mining operations labour conditions are often better but the deals signed with international mining companies are often extremely unfair, providing little revenue to African governments.

Sustainable and fair solutions
A sustainable and fair solution should be found to improve the livelihoods of artisanal miners. Cooperative labour organizations could be part of the solution, as well as the creation of formal jobs and other alternatives. In the formal sector capacity building of governmental institutions, strong trade union involvement and NGO oversight are needed. Other core issues are:

• the culture of corruption;
• the involvement of armed forces - police and military - in mining operations;
• the re-negotiation of joint venture contracts between state companies and private operators.