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Scientists at KU Leuven, University of Lubumbashi reveal the health risks of cobalt mining in DR Congo

Green Car Congress

Around 60% of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the mineral-rich Katanga Copper belt, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This field study provides novel and robust empirical evidence that the artisanal extraction of cobalt that prevails in the DR Congo may cause toxic harm to vulnerable communities. —Nkulu et al.

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UN report highlights urgent need to tackle impact of EV battery production boom

Green Car Congress

For example, two-thirds of all cobalt production happens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It has also contributed to environment degradation, landscape damage and soil contamination, groundwater depletion and pollution. This has forced local quinoa farmers and llama herders to migrate and abandon ancestral settlements.

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Volkswagen joins “Cobalt for Development” initiative

Green Car Congress

Volkswagen says that it is actively engaging in improving artisanal cobalt mining conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as the living conditions for people in the surrounding communities. Artisanal mining involves risks to the environment and people.

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BMW Group, BASF SE, Samsung SDI and Samsung Electronics launch cross-industry project to support sustainable cobalt mining

Green Car Congress

As part of a cross-industry initiative, the BMW Group, BASF SE, Samsung SDI and Samsung Electronics have launched a joint cobalt pilot project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The world’s largest known reserves of this raw material are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Should the Cobalt for EVs Come From the Congo or the Seafloor?

Cars That Think

But the question of whether obtaining cobalt and other valuable metals from the ocean floor would help or hurt the environment overall is, in fact, quite complicated. A reasoned judgement will hinge on many things, including how much you are concerned by the toll from conventional mining.

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Mexico forms state-run company to mine lithium: Litio para Mexico

Green Car Congress

The Board of Directors for LitioMx comprises the head of the Ministry of Energy, who will preside over it; the head of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit; the head of the Ministry of Economy; the head of the Ministry of the Interior; and the head of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. According to the USGS, Mexico has 1.7

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EGC enters trading agreement with Trafigura with the aim to transform the ASM cobalt mining sector in DRC

Green Car Congress

Our mission is therefore as much in a perspective of the defence of our most vulnerable communities, as in the affirmation of the central positioning of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has 70 percent of the world reserves of this strategic mineral. —Andrew Britton, Managing Director at Kumi.

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