The outlook for mining in Africa in 2024 will undoubtedly see continued integration of ESG priorities into operations — SRK Consulting discusses responsible sourcing in the DRC, with artisanal mining being core to considerations.
A growing focus on responsible sourcing by cobalt using industries is highlighting the pressure on mines in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to address both environmental and social impacts - and artisanal mining is an important part of these considerations.
According to Wouter Jordaan, partner and principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting, manufacturers of goods such as batteries and electric vehicles are among the stakeholders who want to ensure that their supply chains are ethical. It is estimated by news agency Reuters that the DRC is home to 150 000 to 200 000 artisanal miners - reliant on informal cobalt mining for their livelihoods.
