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Congo’s conflict minerals fuel American electronics

Working on the overhaul of Wall Street rules, the Securities and Exchange Commission ventures into foreign territory as it tries to write ‘conflict minerals’ regulations for companies to follow. Many American electronics are powered using tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold — all minerals that come from eastern Congo, where profits finance the country’s bloody war.

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These gold nuggets in eastern Congo are worth more than $3,000 each. The Enough Project estimates that armed groups take in $185 million annually trading in these minerals, while, according to World Bank, miners will make $5 a day mining them.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

Customers wait in line at a Sprint store in Philadelphia. Sprint is one of the companies expected to join the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade, an initiative due to launch in November. The alliance involves companies, the United States, Congo and trade associations and other groups that work together to promote responsible trade.

Customers wait in line at a Sprint store in Philadelphia. Sprint is one of the companies expected to join the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade, an initiative due to launch in November. The alliance involves companies, the United States, Congo and trade associations and other groups that work together to promote responsible trade.

Matt Rourke / AP

Hewlett Packard is another company expected to join the alliance. Other tech firms that are looking to join include Nokia, Verizon, Intel, Sony and Motorola.

Hewlett Packard is another company expected to join the alliance. Other tech firms that are looking to join include Nokia, Verizon, Intel, Sony and Motorola.

PAUL SAKUMA / ASSOCIATED PRESS

A tantalum mine in North Kivui, Congo, seen in 2010. Tantalum is used for capacitors in cellphones and iPods. A 2008 U.S. Geological Survey report found that less than 10 percent of tantalum imported to the United States is from Congo, but the Enough Project estimates that Congolese armed groups make $8 million per year trading in that mineral.

A tantalum mine in North Kivui, Congo, seen in 2010. Tantalum is used for capacitors in cellphones and iPods. A 2008 U.S. Geological Survey report found that less than 10 percent of tantalum imported to the United States is from Congo, but the Enough Project estimates that Congolese armed groups make $8 million per year trading in that mineral.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

Men stand around a bag filled with cassiterite, a tin product, on the outskirts of Walikale, Congo.

Men stand around a bag filled with cassiterite, a tin product, on the outskirts of Walikale, Congo.

Schalk van Zuydam / ASSOCIATED PRESS

A woman carries produce in Bukavu, South Kivu, Congo, on what could be a 20-mile walk to carry this load from village to market.

A woman carries produce in Bukavu, South Kivu, Congo, on what could be a 20-mile walk to carry this load from village to market.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

A street scene of a trading center in Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city.

A street scene of a trading center in Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

Gold smuggling done in dark rooms, as shown in this picture in South Kivu, is rampant in eastern Congo.

Gold smuggling done in dark rooms, as shown in this picture in South Kivu, is rampant in eastern Congo.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

In gold processing, the gold must first be boiled, then heated up in a gas kiln. Here, it is being poured out from the kiln.

In gold processing, the gold must first be boiled, then heated up in a gas kiln. Here, it is being poured out from the kiln.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

Child miners work in South Kivu; many are as young as 11.

Child miners work in South Kivu; many are as young as 11.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

Traders buy minerals in South Kivu, Congo. They use U.S. dollars because the dollar is much more stable and less counterfeited than the Congolese franc.

Traders buy minerals in South Kivu, Congo. They use U.S. dollars because the dollar is much more stable and less counterfeited than the Congolese franc.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

After being poured out of the kiln, the gold is washed off.

After being poured out of the kiln, the gold is washed off.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

A child miner in a gold mine in South Kivu, Congo.

A child miner in a gold mine in South Kivu, Congo.

Sasha Lezhnev / Enough Project

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