Hidden Uranium in DRC Cobalt Exports to China: Is It a Problem?
The China in Africa PodcastPlay episode
Show notes
The DRC's cobalt industry is also moving uranium through global supply chains, creating a problem that extends beyond critical-minerals security. Researchers estimate that 2,000–5,000 tons of uranium may have left the country as a byproduct of cobalt production, raising questions about nuclear-security risks, environmental exposure, and the traceability of mineral exports.
The challenge is persistent rather than catastrophic: uranium occurs naturally alongside DRC cobalt and can remain in cobalt hydroxide even when companies follow existing processing standards. Weak shipment-level monitoring and inconsistent reporting leave uncertainty over where the uranium goes and how it is handled after reaching China and other markets.
Ryan Manzuk, Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Program on Science and Global Security, joins Cobus and Geraud to analyze uranium contamination in DRC cobalt exports, including nuclear-security implications, environmental and worker exposure, and measures to improve traceability and local processing.
📌 Topics Covered in This Episode
Uranium contamination in DRC cobalt exports China's role in cobalt supply chains Nuclear security risks from uranium exports Environmental and health risks for miners Traceability, regulation, and local processing Show Notes
Nature Communications: Uranium in cobalt-hydroxide exports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Ryan A. Manzuk & Sébastien Philippe Join the Discussion:
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