The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has suspended mining operations at a site run by China’s Congo Dongfang International Mining, following the discovery of an environmental leak in the country’s south.
The Minister of Mines said the company failed to comply with environmental standards, resulting in water contamination and posing a serious health risk to local communities.
He warned that the suspension could be extended for up to three months unless the company repairs the environmental damage and fully compensates affected residents.
The move comes as the DRC — which produces over 70% of the world’s cobalt — intensifies regulatory efforts to oversee its strategic mining sector, long criticized for environmental pollution and weak governance.
