Why the United States must turn to cobalt-free technology
By: Niels Cohen
No material holds as much importance in today’s world as cobalt. Cobalt has a broad range of industrial and technological applications that make procuring cobalt essential for global energy. 60%-70% of all cobalt extracted in the world is mined in the Dominican Republic of Congo (DRC), and 15% of the cobalt mined in the DRC is done by artisanal miners who extract the cobalt by hand or with simple tools. Many of these miners lack important safety measures and precautions.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on August 16, 2022, states in section 25e that United States taxpayers can get up to $7,500 for each electric vehicle purchased for personal use. The widespread adoption of electric vehicles has increased demand for lithium-ion batteries which, in turn, has increased the demand for cobalt and other raw metals, essential components of EV batteries. Due to the massive supply in the DRC, an increase in miners has kept the price of cobalt stable. The amount of cobalt extracted from the DRC has increased every year and – as consumers take advantage of the subsidized cost of electric vehicles – the demand for cobalt will surge even higher. Due to America’s high demand for lithium-ion batteries, companies have inadvertently furthered the humanitarian crisis in the Dominican Republic of Congo. Considering the fact that cobalt-free technology exists, the United States government must stop subsidizing electric vehicles that rely on cobalt and, instead, create incentives for American auto-makers to embrace cobalt-free batteries.
The inhumane conditions of artisanal miners in the DRC are being fueled by the cobalt-reliant electric vehicle market. Cobalt is used in pretty much every single electric-powered device used by the average consumer. The typical electric vehicle’s battery contains 10%-20% of cobalt per battery. Since cobalt is a key element in most lithium-ion batteries, major technology companies rely on the extraction of cobalt in the DRC to create their top-selling and profitable products. The artisanal miners, who extract 15% of all cobalt in the DRC, are both exposed to toxic metals which can cause birth defects and early death and are susceptible to serious injury or death from tunnel collapses or underground fires due to lack of proper safety procedures and equipment. The demand for cobalt has led to mines being built over homes, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of people living in the DRC who are left with no other choice but to work in the mines. Children work at an estimated 25%-30% of mines in the DRC, which is a product of desperate families looking to make ends meet. The purchasing of cobalt-reliant electric vehicles is directly affecting families and children in the DRC. As demand goes up, so does the horrid conditions of workers.
While some may argue that cobalt mining supports the livelihoods of workers in the DRC, the inhumane conditions which these workers are subjected to outweigh the benefits. International NGOs have reported countless incidents of miners killed by collapsing tunnels or an outbreak of underground fires. Children as young as seven are also victims of these conditions. Following a report on the “human cost of artisanal mines” by Amnesty International in 2016, large phone and car companies have started to pledge to eventually eliminate the use of cobalt in their batteries. Seven years since this supposed promise, little to nothing has changed.
The United States government should not promote the humanitarian crisis in the DRC by giving American consumers incentives to buy cobalt-reliant vehicles. Instead, they must invest in research for non-cobalt lithium-ion batteries while also only subsidizing cars that use such technology. The move to clean energy is an important transition, but it cannot come at the expense of human lives. Despite the fact that technology for non-cobalt-reliant vehicles already exists, American automotive companies will not transition unless they profit from such a switch. The United States government can solve this issue by incentivizing the purchase of electric vehicles that use non-cobalt lithium-ion batteries through subsidies. Even though the United States government has a responsibility to create affordable transportation and find ways to be more environmentally-friendly, it also has a moral responsibility to not aid a humanitarian crisis that continues thousands of miles away.
An artisanal miner in the DRC carrying a sack of ore.
