Congo Tackles Cobalt Mining Crisis The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to nearly 60% of the world's cobalt reserves, a critical mineral essential for rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles and portable electronics.
However, this dominance has come at a steep price: environmental degradation, health issues, and human rights abuses are rampant in the artisanal mining sector.
The DRC's Cobalt Dominance: A Complex History Cobalt was first discovered in the Belgian Congo (now DRC) in 1914, but commercial production did not begin until after World War II.