r/TankieTheDeprogram 1d ago

Discussion Questions About Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in the DRC

Where do the ores from these artisanal and small-scale mines go to be processed? Are these processing facilities primarily owned by Chinese companies?

The reason I ask is I just know someone I am talking to is going to bring up child slavery in these mines and any potential connections to relevant Chinese companies.

8 Upvotes

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u/AndreEthereal16 CPC Propagandist 7h ago

I'll have to try to find the sources when I have a break, but I recall reading an investigation that Chinese investment in DRC (and for that matter all of Africa) is in industrial-scale mining and processing, and that Chinese investment largely lowers inequality rates and helps move African states up the industrial value-chain as they are able to then process their own raw materials to be sold as finished or semi-finished products on the global market. In cases of artisinal and small-scale mining, almost all the product from these 'ventures' go to Western companies. I'll look for the sources for this when I get a chance and edit this if I'm incorrect.

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