The devastating impact of copper and cobalt mining pollution in Lualaba, DRC

August 29, 2026

Scientific studies conducted by multiple independent organizations have revealed severe environmental contamination in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Lualaba mining region, where major copper and cobalt operations supply materials for global green energy technology. Air pollution measurements show that fine-particle concentrations routinely exceed World Health Organization safety limits by up to six times, with nearly 98 percent of readings above acceptable thresholds at locations including Galaxy School in Kolwezi, where 1,500 students and 68 staff members are exposed daily. Water sources have been found dangerously contaminated with toxic metals including copper, cobalt, manganese, arsenic, and uranium, with one community well measuring 100 times more acidic than recommended levels.

Who is affected

1,500 students and 68 staff members at Galaxy School in Kolwezi
Residents of Musonoi district and surrounding communities near mining sites
Families losing crops and gardens to pollution
Communities forcibly evicted and displaced by mining expansion, with some becoming homeless
Women living near mining sites experiencing reproductive health concerns
Children facing potential developmental disorders and health risks from chronic exposure
Nathan Nkulu and other community leaders in districts near KCC and COMMUS mining operations
Residents near Ruashi Mining facilities experiencing chronic nosebleeds
Communities living around Tenke Fungurume Mining (CMOC), COMMUS (Zijin Mining), and Mutanda Mining (Glencore) sites

What action is being taken

Source International, RAID, and AfreWatch are conducting independent scientific studies using separate laboratories and methodologies
Researchers are monitoring pollution at industrial mining sites and recording air quality measurements
Health professionals are reporting increases in specific health conditions
The Initiative for Good Governance and Human Rights (IBGDH ASBL) is questioning the DR Congolese state's inability to protect people
Communities are using water discharged from mining companies due to lack of drinking water

Why it matters

This situation reveals the human cost of the global green energy transition, as the DRC supplies three-quarters of the world's cobalt and significant copper quantities essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies. Communities are experiencing severe health consequences including respiratory problems, potential neurological disorders, renal diseases, chronic poisoning, and developmental issues in children from exposure to contamination levels described as among the most concerning ever documented at industrial mining sites worldwide. The contaminated sediments represent what scientists call a "chemical time bomb" with long-term health implications, while the "polluter-pays" principle remains unenforced despite mounting scientific evidence confirming what communities have reported for years. The crisis highlights the tension between global environmental ambitions and local environmental devastation, raising questions about whether mining revenue justifies sacrificing an entire generation's health and well-being.

What's next

Scientists state that conducting an epidemiological investigation to establish direct causal links between pollution and reported reproductive health issues is the next crucial step. Emmanuel Umpula of AfreWatch calls for companies to act and for the DRC government to enforce its environmental laws more strictly.

Read full article from source: Global Voices