China cobalt mine deal was ‘injustice’: my country did not get anything, ex-DRC leader says

Congolese feel short-changed by mega infrastructure-for-minerals deals involving cobalt – a key component of EV batteries

Under the scanner are the US$6 billion Sicomines deal with Chinese firms, and China Moly’s alleged under-reporting of reserves at the giant Tenke mine

Reading Time:5 minutes

The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces two-thirds of the global supply of cobalt – an essential component of electric vehicle batteries. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:00pm, 6 Mar 2022Updated: 8:32pm, 6 Mar 2022

As much of the world electrifies its cars, countries are relying ever more heavily on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Central African nation produces two-thirds of the global supply of cobalt – an essential component of electric vehicle batteries.

That should make the Congolese happy. But reality says otherwise.

The people believe they have been short-changed by foreign companies that control the mining and processing of the metal. President Felix Tshisekedi stirred up a storm last year, accusing his predecessors of having signed lopsided contracts with mining companies – most of them Chinese – and saying he wanted to renegotiate them.

President Tshisekedi’s campaign has further received rare support from Congolese opposition politician Adolphe Muzito, who said the DRC had not benefited much from mining deals signed with Chinese companies.

A hoarding featuring Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on a highway leading to the Zambian border. Photo: Bloomberg

Muzito served as the DRC’s prime minister under president Joseph Kabila’s administration between 2008 and 2012, and it was during this time that the country awarded mega infrastructure-for-minerals deals.

The current government says those deals were skewed in favour of foreign companies and elite Congolese politicians.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x