Cobalt boom is driving health crisis in Congo, report finds

On the outskirts of a dusty mining town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a sprawling industrial complex known locally as the “30k plant” runs around the clock.

Covering an area roughly the size of 500 football fields, the processing facility is the crown jewel of CMOC Group, the Chinese mining giant that now produces nearly half of the world’s cobalt — a critical mineral used in batteries powering electric vehicles.

But while the plant feeds the global transition to cleaner energy, a new report following a three-year investigation warns that communities living nearby may be paying a steep price.

The report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) says that emissions from the massive Tenke Fungurume Mining Complex (TFM) are contributing to a public-health crisis in neighborhoods near the mining hub of Kolwezi in southern Congo.

Toxic Air Near the Mine

The report centres on Manomapia, a neighbourhood located close to the mine’s hydrometallurgical processing facility.

Residents interviewed during the investigation described a persistent presence of pungent fumes and worsening health problems they believe are linked to the mine’s operations.

“We’re dying here because of the acid coming from the plant,” one resident told investigators.

According to the report, researchers examined more than 1,200 medical records from local clinics and hospitals. The data revealed a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis among people living near the facility.

Residents also reported severe symptoms including frequent nosebleeds and coughing up blood.

Researchers say the likely culprit is sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas released during copper-cobalt processing. Even short exposure can irritate the lungs and worsen respiratory disease.

Independent air monitoring conducted between late 2024 and early 2025 detected sulfur dioxide levels far above international safety thresholds, sometimes exceeding 0.5 parts per million for extended periods.

International guidelines typically limit short-term exposure to about 0.191 parts per million over ten minutes, the report noted.

Worker Accounts Raise Further Concerns

Former workers interviewed by investigators also described dangerous conditions inside the facility.

Some said “off-gassing” — sudden releases of sulfur dioxide — occurred periodically and that equipment was rarely shut down when alarms sounded because restarting machinery would take too long.

One worker recalled three subcontractors losing consciousness during a gas buildup because they lacked proper protective equipment.

The report also questions the reliability of air monitoring systems used around the mine, suggesting they may not fully capture pollution levels experienced by nearby communities.

The controversy underscores the complex environmental tensions surrounding the global push toward electric vehicles.

Demand for cobalt has surged in recent years as automakers expand battery production. Congo supplies roughly 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, making it central to the global energy transition.

Production at the Tenke Fungurume complex has grown rapidly, helping CMOC become the world’s largest cobalt producer.

Cobalt from the mine flows into international supply chains serving major automakers including BMW, Mercedes‑Benz, Stellantis and Volkswagen.

The report also raises concerns about industry oversight.

In 2024, Tenke Fungurume became the first mine in Africa to receive certification under the Copper Mark programme, which evaluates environmental and social practices in mining operations.

But the EIA report argues that the conditions documented near the mine raise serious questions about how effectively such audits capture pollution risks experienced by nearby residents.

Displacement and Community Tensions

Facing mounting complaints, the mine operator relocated about 1,500 families from the Mano-Mapia area in 2024 to create a buffer zone around the industrial site.

The company described the move as an effort to “preserve social peace” while continuing to deny a direct link between its operations and reported health problems.

For many residents, however, relocation has not resolved the broader concerns about pollution and long-term health risks.

The report concludes that the situation illustrates a growing dilemma in the global shift toward cleaner energy.

While cobalt is essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable technologies, the investigation warns that the environmental and health costs of mining must not be overlooked.

“The benefits of the energy transition,” researchers wrote, “should not come at the expense of communities living closest to the source of its raw materials.”