DR Congo Investigates Uranium Associated with Cobalt Exports, Estimated at Up to 5,000 Tons

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 7, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) launched an investigation into uranium content in cobalt export products, planning to test the crude cobalt hydroxide it exports in large quantities and establishing a working group to assess the entry of uranium into the international supply chain alongside cobalt products. The 2,000 to 5,000 tons of natural uranium involved in the investigation is an academic research estimate, and the government will verify the actual scale through sampling and laboratory testing.

The investigation stems from a study published in Nature Communications on July 30. Combining geological distribution of mining areas, mine trade records, and hydrometallurgical process data, the researchers estimated that between 2000 and 2024, cobalt hydroxide exported from the DRC may have contained 2,000 to 5,000 tons of natural uranium, with less than 10% publicly declared and included in the international nuclear safeguards system.

Uranium is commonly associated with oxidized cobalt ore in the copper-cobalt belt of southern DRC, and the two elements exhibit similar chemical behavior in hydrometallurgical processes. If no dedicated uranium removal step is included in the production process, some uranium may remain in the cobalt solution and be exported along with crude cobalt hydroxide. The study shows that this product accounts for more than 95% of the country's cobalt export forms.

The DRC government plans to consult with the International Atomic Energy Agency on technical support, bring in domestic nuclear safety agencies and international laboratories to participate in testing, and study the deployment of radiation detection equipment at mineral transport and export points. The relevant assessment is expected to be completed within 60 days. The study also estimates that 1,000 to 4,000 tons of uranium may have entered mine tailings, with the exact amount requiring further investigation and confirmation.