Conflict-free Minerals

A look behind the scenes

Quelle/Source: Wilson Center/ECSP

1 Distribution of mineral resources in the DRC

Quelle/Source: Wilson Center/ECSP

Quelle/Source: Oxfam 2015

2 Rebel groups in eastern Congo

Quelle/Source: Oxfam 2015

Quelle/Source: EITI Report 2015

3 Export revenues for DRC minerals

Quelle/Source: EITI Report 2015

Quelle/Source: DRC Ministry of Mines

4 Production of copper and cobalt

Quelle/Source: DRC Ministry of Mines

5 Production of 3T minerals

Quelle/Source: DRC Ministry of Mines

6 Gold production

Quelle/Source: DRC Ministry of Mines

Quelle/Source: Kimberley Process

7 Diamond production

Quelle/Source: Kimberley Process

8 Revenues from diamond mining

Quelle/Source: Kimberley Process

Quelle/Source: IPIS

9 Influence of armed groups on small-scale mining

Quelle/Source: IPIS

Quelle/Source: Banro Corportion

10 Twanziga mine

Quelle/Source: Banro Corportion

11 Twanziga preparation plant

Quelle/Source: Banro Corportion

Quelle/Source: Metorex

12 Kinseda project

Quelle/Source: Metorex

Quelle/Source: Kamoto Copper Company

13 Grinding plant

Quelle/Source: Kamoto Copper Company

Quelle/Source: Randgold

14 Kabali Mine

Quelle/Source: Randgold

Quelle/Source: Apple Inc.

15 Smelters and refiners by commodity

Quelle/Source: Apple Inc.

16 Certification of smelters and refiners

Quelle/Source: Apple Inc.

Quelle/Source: Fairphone

17 Supply chains for tin and tantalum

Quelle/Source: Fairphone

Conflict-free small-scale mining, Kalimbi Mine, Süd-Kivu/DRC

Quelle/Source: Fairphone

Summary: Nobody wants conflict minerals in his/her mobile phone or in other high-tech devices. But the reality is different. In particular, large quantities of the tantalum used in such devices, as well as the mineral coltan, come from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and help to finance armed rebels and militias there. The following article provides a look behind the scenes.

1 Introduction

On 31.05.2014, companies registered in the US stock market were, for the first time, obliged to disclose to the Securities and Exchange Commission (Securities Exchange Commission = SEC) the use of “conflict minerals” in their products in the year 2013. The annual disclosure requirement has been a binding regulation of Section 1502 of the so-called Dodd-Frank Act since 2010. Under the term “conflict minerals” the Dodd-Frank Act understands the raw materials tin, tantalum and tungsten (3T) as well as gold, if the mining and trading of these commodities contribute to the financing...