DR Congo investigates uranium contamination in cobalt exports

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has launched a formal investigation into claims that massive quantities of undeclared uranium have been contaminating its cobalt exports. The move follows research published in 'Nature Communications' suggesting that between 2,000 and 5,000 metric tons of natural uranium were exported as a byproduct of cobalt-hydroxide shipments between 2000 and 2024.

To address the issue, the Congolese government plans to establish a working group, consult the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for a technical support mission, and assess potential health and environmental risks over the next 60 days. Officials also intend to install radiation detectors on trucks departing the country to monitor shipments.

The controversy highlights significant nuclear accounting concerns. Experts note that because less than 10 percent of the material was publicly declared to the IAEA, there is a lack of regulatory oversight regarding its final destination. Much of this material is believed to flow to China, which processes approximately 95 percent of the world's cobalt. While the DRC government has disputed the research methodology—arguing the estimates rely on modeling rather than direct measurements—it has committed to the investigation.