cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/56132298
Here is the study: Democratic Republic of Congo: Expansion of Chinese-Owned Cobalt and Copper Mines in the Lualaba Province
- Researchers used commercial satellite imagery to document major expansion at three Chinese-controlled DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] mines: Sicomines, Tenke Fungurume, and Kisanfu.
- Evidence shows China is building an integrated upstream ecosystem combining extraction, processing, logistics, and transportation—not merely increasing raw output.
- Cobalt is critical for aerospace, defense, and advanced batteries, making China's tightening grip a serious strategic concern for Western nations.
- Satellite analysis cannot directly measure production volumes, and the study is limited to three operations, leaving broader industry trends unexamined.
....
The risks of human rights violations in these mines are extremely high. Much of the mining at these industrial mines is performed by “artisanal miners,” freelance workers who perform the mining using shovels or pickaxes in chemically toxic environments for the equivalent of a few US dollars per day.[16] Artisanal mining is prohibited by law, but is still present at most mines in the DRC.[16] Miners are often physically abused, sexually harassed, and discriminated against based on their race or gender.
Studies have revealed that many of these labor rights violations have been committed in several Chinese-owned mines, including the Kamoto Mine, the Tenke Fungurume Mine, Sicomines, Metalkol Roan Tialings Reclamation (RTR) Mine, and Dewiza Mine.
...
Chinese firms control or hold majority stakes in almost three-fourths of cobalt and copper mines in the DRC, including the Sicomines Copper-Cobalt Mine, the Tenke Fungurume Mine, and the Kisanfu Mine. The consolidated Chinese presence now accounts for an estimated 70% of the DRC’s cobalt exports and a substantial share of its copper production, effectively shaping global market prices and supply reliability ... The DRC itself produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt and about 10% of its copper, making the country indispensable to the global economy.
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Historically, the clearing of forestry has served as an accurate indicator of a future expansion of operations. There have been several instances of forestry clearance across mines, which means that mines likely have future expansion plans on the way.
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Sounds like they need a government that protects workers rights. I wonder how they ended up with their current comprador government.
They need a government that protects worker rights, so the companies exploiting them are blameless? I’m sure nestle will be thrilled to learn this.
This @alcoholicorn@hexbear.net is only a propaganda troll with an extraordinarily weird communication style: a high degree of pseudo-intellectual tone and comments that are frequently unrelated to the issues posted. They sound like a teenager in delayed puberty pretending to understand something better than all others.
(I'm sorry, I know we should be friendly, but this account lacks any form of respect for other people's opinions, and they are acting apparently in bad faith.)
Lol if you even bothered to look at that account it hasn't been used since early 2025
Bro shut the fuck up. Youre a neoliberal western shill that likes the smell of his own farts. Go suck a capitalists dick like you always do.
You're so concerned with human rights but only when it paints china in a bad light. Why haven't you posted a single thing about Israels genocide? You're a neoliberal American shill still rooting for the losing side.
Not at all what I said, both Nestlé and these chinese companies are enabled by western imperialism. It remains to be seen if China will try to fill the role western military aid does in enabling the government to oppress the people, or if we will see China support liberation movements similar to how the USSR did once they no longer fear being treated like the USSR.