DR CONGO DEPLOYS TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK IT’S MINERALS.

Blockchain technology used in DR Congo to track minerals from origin to consumption.

Dorae Inc, has deployed blockchain technology to track cobalt, coltan and diamonds mined in DR Congo. Also, IMPACT of Canada has teamed up with technology firm Consensus to track gold from small mines.

This will benefit DR Congo, as royalties paid to the government rose from 2 per cent to 10 per cent when President Joseph Kabila on March 9, signed the new mining code into law.

There is now an approval from President Kabila for Dorae Inc to deploy technology to store data about minerals from origin to end user. Once there is a purchase of ore ; there is an automatic inputting of information on place of origin, extraction method and quality in the system.

Hence, each time materials change in transit and processing, there is a logging in of the details of the transaction to create a permanent record from origin to final use.

Companies face increasing pressure to know where minerals come from. This system addresses risks such as corruption and human rights abuses.

Large mineral deposits in eastern DR Congo are used by warlords to buy guns and bullets, leading to continuous bloodshed. Illegal mining of cobalt, coltan and diamonds majorly have an association with financing of conflict in eastern DRC.

The smuggling network usually comprises of Congolese citizens and foreigners.