DR Congo produces first 1,000 tonnes of traceable artisanal cobalt

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s state cobalt agency has produced its first 1,000 metric tonnes of traceable artisanal cobalt.

It is a critical component in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and laptops, making it central to the transition to green energy.

The DRC is a dominant source of the mineral, holding about 72 per cent of global cobalt reserves and accounting for over 74 per cent of…