Electric cars are sold as clean. But, in southern Congo, communities near the Tenke Fungurume mine are breathing toxic air and reportedly paying with their health.
Women and children are especially affected. Reports describe nosebleeds, coughing up blood, miscarriages and forced displacement as cobalt extraction expands.
According to observers, the shift away from oil is increasingly becoming a toxic transition built on poisoned communities. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Stellantis are being urged to stop sourcing cobalt linked to this mine until the pollution is brought under control and people’s rights are respected.
The Rainforest Rescue group is leading the campaign and urging stakeholders to sign a petition to tell the carmakers that public health comes before profit.
The group stated: “The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is by far the world’s largest cobalt producer, with more than 70 percent of the market. Without Congo’s cobalt, high-tech industries and the energy transition would stall. Manufacturers such as VW, BMW, and Mercedes rely on it.
“But the rush for cobalt, coltan, rare earths, gold, and bauxite has devastating consequences: Forests are cleared, landscapes plowed up, mountains levelled, rivers diverted, and air, water, and soil polluted. Working conditions are often dire, and exploitation is widespread.
“In eastern DRC, exploitation also fuels violence. In North and South Kivu, hundreds of thousands are fleeing and thousands dying.”
John Hayduska of Rainforest Rescue submitted that people in southern Congo’s “copper belt” are bearing the brunt.
“According to the study Toxic Transition by Environmental Investigation Agency US (EIA) and PremiCongo, the Tenke Fungurume (TFM) mine and the 30k processing plant emit sulfur dioxide (SO2) far above safe or legal levels. Communities, especially children and women, suffer serious health problems, including vomiting blood, life-threatening respiratory infections, and stillbirths, while more than 10,000 people have lost their homes as the mine expands.”
EIA and PremiCongo hold Chinese CMOC Group Ltd (CMOC) – owner and operator of the Tenke Fungurume mine – responsible.
CMOC’s cobalt is used by BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen for electric vehicles.
EIA and PremiCongo presented the study to the companies named in it. The full statements from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and TFM are available on the EIA website.
Hayduska added: “Automakers should not turn a blind eye when their demand for raw materials causes harm. Tell them to clean up their supply chains and stop purchasing cobalt from TFM until the pollution issue is resolved.”