DRC: Tenke Fungurume Mining targeted by investigation into toxic pollution

In the Lualaba province, in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the activities of Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) are sparking serious health concerns. According to RFI, a new investigation conducted by the Mazingira pour tous consortium reveals abnormal concentrations of sulfur dioxide near the 30K plant of this copper and cobalt extraction complex, which is among the largest in the world.

Readings taken in the neighboring Manomapia district measured a peak of sulfur dioxide reaching 1,834 micrograms per cubic meter over ten minutes. According to the investigators, this value is 3.7 times higher than the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization for this time interval. This toxic gas is known to cause severe irritation of the eyes, nose, and the entire respiratory system.

The study also documented the health status of 209 residents monitored over an eighteen-week period. Of the 103 people examined in Manomapia, four out of ten stated they suffered from eye irritation, and nearly two out of ten reported nosebleeds. These observations align with a previous investigation published in March by EIA and PremiCongo, which drew on more than 1,200 medical records since the site began operations in 2023.

Faced with this evidence, TFM management categorically refutes the accusations of pollution, challenging the methodologies used and asserting that it complies with regulatory thresholds. Both investigations point out that the cobalt extracted supplies the global automotive industry. The authors of the reports are now calling for an independent audit as well as transparency regarding the company's environmental data, so that the Congolese state can resolve this dispute.

Our perspective

The exploitation of strategic minerals must not take place at the expense of the health of African populations. The sovereignty of the DRC rests on its ability to firmly regulate multinationals and demand absolute transparency. The global energy transition must respect the dignity and lives of Congolese citizens, the true owners of the nation's underground wealth.