The dark side of electric vehicle production

In a world seeking sustainable solutions, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising alternative. Phasing out fossil fuel-powered cars and switching to electric vehicles is a good way to mitigate urban pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; thereby combating global warming.

Well, this is the supporter Green and clean energy Always pushing the world to do it.

However, peel back the layers and all that glitters is not gold. This is a case of a moral dilemma and environmental paradox that lies at the heart of the production of batteries for electric vehicles.

Unlike internal combustion engines, the key component of electric vehicles (EVs) is the battery, which is made from cobalt and coltan.

Other countries include Russia, Australia, Cuba, Canada, Madagascar and Papua New Guinea, while the Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for about 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves.

The Great Lakes nation also holds about 80% of the world’s coltan reserves. In the quest for a green, clean energy revolution, the country has been a major source of the mineral needed for the world’s electric vehicles.

In addition to cobalt and coltan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, The largest country in sub-Saharan Africa Africa is rich in minerals such as copper, gold, tantalum, zinc, cassiterite, manganese, coal, and silver.

Other metals include cadmium, germanium (used in the production of semiconductors), gold, palladium, uranium and platinum. The country also has abundant hydroelectric potential, arable land, biodiversity and the world’s second largest rainforest after the Amazon.

Data from the YouTube documentary “Congo, My Baby” shows that in 1960, the Democratic Republic of the Congo supplied 60% of the world’s uranium, 70% of cobalt and 70% of industrial diamonds.

Today, the world’s essentials, including cell phones, laptops and other technology products, are made from coltan, an ore that comes primarily from the Democratic Republic of Congo and is cheap. The DRC also contains lithium, which is crucial for electric vehicle batteries, as well as other minerals such as wolframite, tourmaline, tungsten and wood. According to Amnesty International, much of the hardwood furniture used in Kenya and many homes in the region comes from the DRC and South Sudan. Asian countries, led by China, particularly covet the country’s wood.

Despite its rich mineral resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo remains one of the poorest countries in the world. In 2022, nearly 62% of Congolese (about 60 million people) lived on less than $2.15 (Sh280) a day.

Sadly, according to the World Bank Group, about one in six people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa live in the DRC.

Sadly, the majority of Congolese people have not benefited from the country’s abundant resources. Ongoing conflict, political instability, dictatorship and prolonged humanitarian crises have undermined the country’s development trajectory.

Mining remains the main driver of economic growth in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the World Bank. However, mining and its economic activities are proving to be more of a curse than a boon.

Chris Okamulinga, A CGTN International correspondent covering the Democratic Republic of Congo highlighted the challenges facing community participation in mining operations in the country, noting that while the constitution guarantees the right to benefit from natural resources, “this constitutional right exists only on paper.”

“Those in power are colluding with foreign investors and neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda to extract minerals and sell them,” he explained. Since the Mobutu regime, corruption has allowed the authorities to work with foreign investors to extract resources, leaving local people disenfranchised.

Corruption is widespread

However, the introduction of a law in 2022 to protect indigenous land rights was an important step forward, but its implementation remains uncertain due to widespread corruption and ongoing interference by regional and international states and other entities.

Speaking about the challenges faced by people living in mining areas, Okamulinga mentioned several community-led initiatives aimed at cleaning up the mining industry which is plagued by corruption.

Chris points to traceability systems, certification and due diligence initiatives by locals working with international NGOs. These initiatives are crucial, as research shows that “many conflicts, especially in eastern DRC, are fueled by the illegal exploitation of these minerals.”

However, he also noted challenges, noting that the State remained weak in many remote areas, allowing armed groups to exploit minerals and intimidate the population.

Okamulinga commented: “Unless political leaders take full control of the situation… we will continue to see this injustice done to ordinary people.” Despite these commendable efforts by the community, there is still a long way to go.

Thousands of families have been displaced and forests have been cut down to allow for mining operations, leading to environmental degradation.

According to an article published by Djaffar Al Kantanty on July 19 ReutersArmed groups profit from the production and trade of wood planks in North Kivu. Illegal and uncontrolled logging has resulted in the destruction of large tracts of primary forest in the Virunga Conservation Area.

The mining process has reportedly raised concerns about unethical practices. Workers have been overworked and underpaid, and have been subjected to a variety of human rights violations, including physical and sexual abuse, arson, and forced displacement According to a report by Amnesty International.

Some international mining companies have also been accused of using forced child labor and exposing local communities to the deadly effects of environmental pollution.

Despite a 2017 reform of the DRC’s mining code aimed at punishing child labour, the grim reality remains that more than 40,000 children are still working illegally in hazardous conditions. These children are often employed as washers and diggers in the mining of coltan.

According to Global Forest Watch, tree cover in the Democratic Republic of Congo has fallen dramatically by 8.6% since 2000, with mining activities, particularly coltan, identified as the main cause of deforestation. Important historical sites such as Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Rutshuru and Nyiragongo are under severe threat of deforestation.

The lack of state control over mining sites allows artisanal miners to ignore regulations and cause environmental pollution. The chemicals used in the artisanal beneficiation process can pollute water bodies and produce harmful radioactive substances.

Furthermore, there is ample evidence that women bear the brunt of this pollution, as it often targets the reproductive system and affects the composition of breast milk, thus affecting the health of future generations.

Human rights advocate Isaac Kavalami stressed the need for stronger political leadership to protect workers engaged in the mining of minerals for electric vehicle batteries.

He advocates for mineral traceability, local processing and selling only finished products internationally to create jobs. “To ensure that local communities benefit, companies must operate in Congo,” Kavalami said.

Coltan mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has led to serious human rights violations by both the companies involved and local and global governments, continuing a vicious cycle of poverty and violence. Despite being a mandatory requirement of the mining code, coltan mining companies rarely provide

The November 2023 update from the Center for Preventive Action states that violence is increasing, with high levels of civilian casualties and displacement due to territorial conflicts, extrajudicial killings, political violence, and tensions with neighboring countries.

Nearly 7 million people are now internally displaced due to ongoing violence, extreme poverty, and expanding mining activities. Many multinational companies are vying for the DRC’s rare minerals. For example, the Congolese army is often deployed to mining areas in eastern DRC to protect Chinese assets.

This reflects China’s dominance of the global cobalt market, which stems from a deal struck with Congo’s government in 2009. Chinese companies control not only mining concessions but also the entire supply chain all the way to the battery level.

This extensive control raises concerns about the ethical and environmental standards applied throughout the production process. Dr Andrew Wambua of African Voices Dialogue, while acknowledging the role of electric vehicles, stressed the need for a more holistic approach.

He advocates for a variety of renewable energy solutions, such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric. “Switching to these clean energy sources is critical to moving away from fossil fuels and mitigating the effects of global warming,” he said

The world needs to stop looking at electric vehicles as an alternative to dirty fossil fuels, according to California YIMBY, a US pro-real estate campaign group.

“Mining lithium, cobalt and nickel requires large amounts of water and produces toxic waste,” one of the reports states.

“The manufacturing process uses fossil fuels to heat raw ore to extremely high temperatures. As a result, manufacturing an electric car creates 80% more emissions than manufacturing a comparable gas car.”

The largest emitter

In fact, the production of electric vehicle batteries China is powered by coal energy, making it one of the largest emitters after Russia, the United States, India and Japan. Although Africa accounts for a relatively small share of global greenhouse gas emissions, he believes that integrating clean energy solutions is critical to improving our climate outlook for 2030.

Historian Professor Peter Kagwanja stressed that Congo’s problems are a long-standing one, not a recent one, explaining that Congo is rich in mineral resources and it is cheaper and more cost-effective for foreign entities to exploit the region by maintaining chaos.

“If you are a Westerner, French, Belgian, American, British, Dutch or Chinese, you can get these minerals cheaper and you don’t have to pay taxes to the government,” Professor Kagwanga said.

The professor explained that the Rwandan genocide was linked to the fight for Congo’s resources, as many Rwandans, including Hutus who participated in the genocide, took refuge in eastern Congo.

Attempts to contact Congolese government officials or even Chinese representatives of mining companies were unsuccessful at the time of publication.