DR Congo Cobalt Exports to China Investigated Over Uranium Content, CMOC Disputes Claims

A joint investigation by Lighthouse Reports, the Financial Times and Le Monde has raised questions about possible uranium content in cobalt shipments exported from the Democratic Republic of Congo to China. The reporting centers on a mining site in Katanga province and draws on a confidential memo from the International Atomic Energy Agency obtained in 2024. The memo reportedly flagged concerns about radioactive material present alongside cobalt ore at the site.

The site examined in the investigation is owned by CMOC, a Chinese mining group that is among the world's largest cobalt producers. Cobalt from Congolese mines is a key input for batteries used in electric vehicles and electronics, much of it processed and sold through Chinese supply chains. The investigation suggests uranium traces may have gone undeclared in shipments, raising regulatory and safety questions.

CMOC has disputed the investigation's findings, saying its operations meet applicable safety and export standards. The IAEA has not publicly commented on the memo cited by the reporters. Industry observers say the case could prompt renewed scrutiny of radioactive-material controls across Congolese mining exports, though no regulatory action has been announced so far.