Coltan is short for columbium-tantalite ore, which is used in capacitors for electronic devices such as laptops, cell phones, IPods, video game systems, DVD players, etc. While most people know of and use cell phones, not very many people know that coltan inside of them comes mostly from the mines of Democratic Republic of Congo, which provides about 80% of coltan on the world market. Other suppliers include Australia, China, Ethiopia, and several other countries. However, Congo’s coltan production is the most controversial.
Many refer to it as coltan rush, comparing it to the chaotic and frenzied gold rush some 150 years ago. The mining process is similar to the one used over a century ago, mostly done by hand using very simple tools. The disturbing fact is that there are estimated 2 million children among the coltan miners, some as young as five. They work every day, with no breaks, malnourished, often struck with diseases, and risking their lives to dig for the ore. The children are used so much in mining because of their smaller size – they can get into smaller holes and corridors to dig up the ore. Although coltan is sold for as high as $400 per pound, these children get about 20 cents a day for their work.
Additionally, Democratic Republic of Congo is on of the poorest countries in the world in spite of being the largest supplier of coltan and rich in other resourced like diamonds and copper. It all is due to the growing coltan smuggling business. Neighboring Rwanda and Uganda invaded the eastern Congo and forced women and children to mine coltan to be smuggled and sold on black market. It is believed that coltan helped financing wars in Rwanda and other African countries.
Next time you pick your laptop or cell phone, please think of the price of these high-tech devices, please remember the children, endangered every day to accommodate the global supply of coltan. Before you consider purchasing another electronic device, please investigate and question the manufacturer about their sources of coltan. As a consumer, we have a strong voice and a strong message to those who abuse children for profit.
