Cobalt Mining in the DRC: Outlook and Implications

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds vast reserves of mineral wealth. These resources include the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, a metal with applications in many high-technology industries. Cobalt often occurs naturally alongside copper and nickel and can be obtained as a by-product of mining these two metals. The demand for cobalt has increased significantly in the past decade, and this trend is projected to continue. Companies currently require the metal for the production of various high-technology goods, such as electric vehicle (EV) batteries, magnetic steels, and high-speed cutting tools. Due to its numerous current and potential applications, including the production of green technologies, the mineral carries both commercial and strategic importance. A multitude of risks for companies and countries could potentially affect and arise from the international cobalt market as a result of developments in the DRC.