Uranium Presence in Cobalt Exports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Raises Concerns
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing challenges with uranium being a byproduct in its cobalt exports. Due to the co-mineralization of uranium and cobalt, uranium often accompanies cobalt through the extraction and export processes. The DRC's regulatory and infrastructure capacity has not kept pace with the rapid growth of its extractive industries, leading to significant uranium content in cobalt exports. The government had mandated cobalt to be exported as refined metal to add value, but inadequate electricity supplies and enforcement have resulted in exports primarily in the form of less-processed cobalt hydroxide. This form does not exclude impurities like uranium, which remains in the product unless specifically removed. The DRC's cobalt exports are crucial for global industries, but the presence of uranium poses environmental and safety risks. 
