Europe Struggles to Secure Sustainable Cobalt Supply Amid China’s Dominance

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains pivotal to the global cobalt supply, with two-thirds of the world’s cobalt coming from the mines of the Central African nation. However, much of the DRC’s cobalt output is exported to China, which controls 75% of the global cobalt processing industry. Cobalt, a critical material for making batteries, is key for Europe’s energy transition goals. Consequently, Europe has to depend on China for its cobalt needs, even though it does not agree with the extraction methods. European policymakers, like MEP Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, emphasize sustainable extraction practices to combat child labor and exploitation, but China’s dominance in refining and value addition limits Europe’s influence. Efforts like the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative and the Lobito Corridor infrastructure project aim to boost European presence, but China’s longstanding partnerships and control over DRC’s exports maintain its lead.

SOURCE: DW