Accelerating transition: The case for formalising artisanal and small-scale mined cobalt in the DRC

In 2018, Trafigura published a whitepaper setting out the significant challenge ahead in meeting rapidly growing and forecast future demand for electric vehicles (EVs). Namely, that demand for electric vehicles was fuelling increased requirements for cobalt – and to meet it, artisanal and small-scale mined (ASM) production from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would need to be regulated, legitimised and responsibly sourced.