Ecological Problem: The Mobile Phone

For the production of mobile phones a rare metal called tantalum is used as it is well suited to produce powerful capacitors. The function of these capacitors is to store the electrical charge. Tantalum is extracted from an ore called coltan, which is primarily found in Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The company H.C. Starck which was sold to Advent International and the Carlyle Group in February 2007 by Bayer was involved in this trade significantly.

The strong demand for this raw material is one of the key causes of the Congo conflict in 2008 which continues even today after the official end of the war in the Kivu region was announced. The funds from mining finance, the soldiers and their weapons and are thus contributing to to the continuation of the conflict which has already cost 5 million lives. Further to the vagaries of war are the inhumane working conditions under which the mine workers are forced to work. Their lungs are affected by mineral dust and the mines prone to landslides resulting in fatalities. Even children work under such harsh and dangerous conditions as they try to support their families.

The natural environment in the region has suffered to a great extent by the uncontrolled mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the coltan boom in the year 2000. Numerous mines are situated in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, where some of the last gorillas of DRC can be found. Their habitat is being progressively destroyed by deforestation for new mining sites and the endangered apes are also being hunted down for their flesh.

After the problem in the Congo was highlighted and made public by the United Nations, the trade has partially shifted to other producing countries. But companies worldwide do not distance themselves from the Congolese ore. The origin of the ore can be theoretically verified but it is practically impossible to put the plan into action.

Tantalum is such a rare metal that its deposits are already very scarce and the industry is looking for suitable substitutes of which the metal niobium is one of the main favourites. Though the geographical focus in terms of deposits and countries of origin shifts, the mining and environmental problem essentially persists. The effects of mining and extraction in the service of the electrical industry addressed here are only exemplary for a whole range of materials that are used and for the social and ecological consequences which accompany them.

• Bitala, M. (2003, 16. Juni). Coltan-Embargo: „Kein Blut auf meinem Handy“. Süddeutsche Zeitung.
• Enough (n.d.) Eastern Congo.
• Global Witness (2009, 18. August). Bisie killings show minerals at heart of Congo conflict [Press Release].
• Johnson, D. (2009, Juli). Minerals and conflict in eastern DRC.
• Johnson, D. (2008, 28. November). Mineralienhandel im Kongo: Coltan kehrt auf Weltmarkt zurück. taz.
• Koesch, S., Magdanz, F., & Stadler, R. (2008, 27. April). Rohstoff-Abbau: Handys bedrohen Gorilla-Bestand. Spiegel Online.
• Redmond, I. (2001, Mai). Coltan boom, gorilla bust: The impact of coltan mining on gorillas and other wildlife in eastern DR Congo. (pdf)
• Schlager, E. (2009, 25. April). Kriegsursache Coltan: Hintergründe des Kongokriegs. scinexx.