The clean-energy transition is driving demand for Africa’s minerals. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a cobalt producer, this has brought investment and jobs, alongside questions about mining’s environmental impact.
On November 5, 2026, 27 residents of Kolwezi filed a USD 6.3 million lawsuit against the operator of a Chinese-controlled copper and cobalt mine, alleging contamination of local air and water. Compagnie Minière de Musonoie Global (COMMUS) is 67 per cent owned by China’s Zijin Mining. The claimants seek compensation and environmental restoration. The company will contest the allegations.
The case reflects a wider challenge. Chinese companies are major investors in Africa’s copper, cobalt, bauxite and lithium industries, bringing capital, jobs, technology and access to international markets. Their role has also exposed weaknesses in environmental oversight.
The environmental cost of extraction
The DRC accounted for approximately 76 per cent of mined cobalt production in 2024. Chinese companies, including CMOC, Zijin Mining and Huayou Cobalt, are major investors in its mining and processing industries.
Investigations commissioned by organisations supporting the COMMUS lawsuit reportedly found PM2.5 pollution near a school attended by about 1,500 children reaching 44 micrograms per cubic metre, almost three times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily guideline of 15 micrograms. Researchers also reported contamination in a community well near the mine’s waste storage facility.
