Over 200 people including 70 children died in Congo, when the Coltan mine collapsed this week, in Rubaya, North Kivu province.
This is the second time, parts of the mine caved in.
In January, the mine which is controlled by the M23 rebel groups, collapsed, due to a landslide from heavy rains.
About 15% of the world’s tantalum, used to manufacture jet engines and electronics, comes from the mine.
Louis Watum Kabamba, Minister of Mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, wrote on social media, from the International Summit of Ministers of Mines in Toronto, “despite persistent security challenges in the East of our country, our industry demonstrates exceptional resilience. The results are concrete and measurable: Annual copper production now exceeds 3.5 million tonnes, cobalt is experiencing significant increase in its price, rising from $20,000 to nearly USD 55,000 per tonne, following strategic decisions aimed at better regulating, stabilizing and valuing this key ore in the global energy transition.”
Picture of the Coltan mine, copyright by DJ Reprints.