The Formalization Paradox: Why Artisanal Cobalt Mining in Katanga Resists Institutional Control
Despite billions in supply chain investment and mounting regulatory pressure, artisanal cobalt mining in the DRC's Katanga region remains stubbornly informal. An analysis of why formalization efforts have failed and what it means for the EV supply chain.
Glencore vs. CMOC: The Battle for Cobalt Supremacy in the DRC Copperbelt
How Glencore's Kamoto Copper Company and CMOC's Tenke Fungurume complex define the industrial cobalt landscape — operational strategies, expansion plans, and the shifting balance of power in Katanga's Copperbelt.
The Cobalt Bottleneck: How DRC Mining Constraints Threaten the EV Battery Revolution
Global EV production targets require a doubling of cobalt supply by 2030. With 74% of mine production concentrated in one country, the supply chain faces structural vulnerabilities that no amount of battery chemistry innovation can fully resolve.
Beyond the Headlines: Child Labor in DRC Cobalt Mines and the Limits of Corporate Due Diligence
A forensic assessment of child labor prevalence in Congolese cobalt mining, the effectiveness of remediation programs, and why corporate supply chain audits cannot solve a problem rooted in structural poverty and institutional failure.
Latest Intelligence
The Formalization Paradox: Why Artisanal Cobalt Mining in Katanga Resists Institutional Control
Despite billions in supply chain investment and mounting regulatory pressure, artisanal cobalt mining in the DRC's Katanga region remains stubbornly informal. An analysis of why formalization efforts have failed and what it means for the EV supply chain.
Glencore vs. CMOC: The Battle for Cobalt Supremacy in the DRC Copperbelt
How Glencore's Kamoto Copper Company and CMOC's Tenke Fungurume complex define the industrial cobalt landscape — operational strategies, expansion plans, and the shifting balance of power in Katanga's Copperbelt.
The Cobalt Bottleneck: How DRC Mining Constraints Threaten the EV Battery Revolution
Global EV production targets require a doubling of cobalt supply by 2030. With 74% of mine production concentrated in one country, the supply chain faces structural vulnerabilities that no amount of battery chemistry innovation can fully resolve.
Beyond the Headlines: Child Labor in DRC Cobalt Mines and the Limits of Corporate Due Diligence
A forensic assessment of child labor prevalence in Congolese cobalt mining, the effectiveness of remediation programs, and why corporate supply chain audits cannot solve a problem rooted in structural poverty and institutional failure.
The DRC Mining Code and the Gécamines Problem: Resource Governance at the Crossroads
An analysis of the DRC's 2018 revised mining code, Gécamines' sprawling joint venture portfolio, and the fundamental tension between resource nationalism and investment attractiveness in the world's most important cobalt jurisdiction.