Cobolt

Cobalt (Relatively rare metal)

Nat occur metal found in rock, water, plant, animal.

Forms very strong and hard alloy with nickel, iron

Obtained as byproduct of copper nickel mining

Uses of cobalt

Rechargeable battery
-increase thermal stability+durability
-laptop, phone, ipad

Aerospace+defence
-cobalt alloy = retain strength under immense pressure (reliable)
-aircraft engines, spacecraft, military weapons

Magnets and electronics
-colbalt=retain magnetism at high temp
-motors, wind turbines, MRI machines

Healthcare
-prosthetics, dental implants
-Biocompatibility = body won’t reject
-Radiotherapy, cancer treatment

History of Congo

Belgian colony → leopold II
-exploit+labour → 50% die
-rubber. ivory=main profit
-1960 independance

Mobuto
-nationalised mining sector, but allow corruption, mismanagement, embezzled 15 bill

Current conditions of congo today

Remote+unregulated mines, unequal trade=no generational wealth, little bargaining power

Poverty → no other employment opp
40,000 child worker
2 mill people rely on mining

Working conditions, social

Social impacts
-poor working conditions → lack of equip, safety reg + long hours → fatal injuries are common
-child labour
-health → lung, resp problem → cough, asthma, pneumonia
skin damage and kidney problems
lung scarring, heart damage → heart failure
-displacement → forced removal of comm+conflict over resources.
-Wealth to foreign country

Working conditions env

land degradation → deforestation → lack of biodiversity

water pollution → contamination accumulate in water → long term toxicity on aquatic life

air pollution → cobalt=dust like particles

Address social, ethical problems

Stricter regulations+enforcement → safety+age

Supply chain transparency

Money from profit → development → education, healthcare, infrastructure

Reduce reliance of mining

Addressing env problems+circular economy

DRC=highly vulnerable to climate change → regulations on excavation+rehabilitation.
(where they can mine, if they can mine)

increase recycle and reuse cobalt

Global demand for cobalt

Batteries=73% of cobalt demand
EV= 96% of demand growth
Demand=more than doubling