The international conference “Strategic Minerals, Mining and Society in the D.R. Congo”, held from 2 to 4 April 2025 at the Palace of the Academies in Brussels, brought together experts from a wide range of disciplines to examine the impact of mining and mineral processing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The conference provided a multidisciplinary platform to assess the historical and current role of mining in the DRC, a sector that has evolved alongside global demand for strategic minerals such as copper, cobalt, tantalum, lithium, and gold. Particular attention was given to the growing importance of these resources in the context of the energy transition, technological innovation, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Participants explored the coexistence of industrial mining and artisanal and small-scale mining, as well as their profound effects on workers, local communities, the environment, and broader society. Discussions also addressed key challenges such as labour conditions, environmental impacts (including water pollution), and the often oversimplified narratives surrounding mining in the DRC.
A central objective of the conference was to foster dialogue across disciplines—including anthropology, social and political sciences, economics, environmental sciences, toxicology, and medicine—in order to develop a more nuanced understanding of the sector and to identify pathways toward more sustainable and equitable outcomes for both people and the environment in the DRC.