00:00The Democratic Republic of Congo's state cobalt agency has produced its first 1,000 metric tons of traceable artisanal cobalts.
00:09It's a critical component in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones and laptops,
00:16making it central to the transition to green energy.
00:19The DRC is a dominant source of the mineral, holding about 72% of global cobalt reserves and accounting for over 74% of supply.
00:28But the sector is dominated by informal artisanal mines, employing an estimated 1.5 million people and is largely unregulated.
00:37This has resulted in widespread unethical practices, including human rights abuses and environmental degradation.
00:44The International Energy Agency forecasts that global cobalt demand will increase 40% by 2030.
00:51But car manufacturers and electronics firms increasingly require proof of ethical sourcing,
00:56putting pressure on producers to eliminate child labor and unsafe practices.
01:01The Congo's announcement that it's produced traceable artisanal cobalt is therefore a key step in meeting these concerns by moving towards formalizing the sector.
01:10It says traceability will clean up the supply chain and align production with international environmental, social and governance standards.
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