Conflict minerals and supply chain management of mineral resources.

Conflict minerals are those which are mined quickly and simply in conflict areas and sold at high prices. They generally contain tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. Armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring states are mostly financed by this artesanal mining, which is often carried out by children in unsafe conditions. Discussion is presented of national and international regulations on conflict minerals, including the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploration of Natural Resources framework for Central African regions, the US Dodd-Frank Act, and the OECD Guidelines and Regulation (EU) 2017/821. The initiatives discussed include steps such as the adoption of a traceability manual, traceability certification, and other due diligence. Some of the measures, however, also represent a trade embargo for exports from the DRC and some companies switch suppliers to avoid due diligence. The challenge in the supply chain is to find a system that eliminates forced labour and human rights violations while minimising environmental impact. With the help of blockchain technology, a monitorable supply chain could be created which transparently records every step of the process; this could help bring DRC products back on to the market.
Conflict minerals are those which are mined quickly and simply in conflict areas and sold at high prices. They generally contain tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. Armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring states are mostly financed by this artesanal mining, which is often carried out by children in unsafe conditions. Discussion is presented of national and international regulations on conflict minerals, including the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploration of Natural Resources framework for Central African regions, the US Dodd-Frank Act, and the OECD Guidelines and Regulation (EU) 2017/821. The initiatives discussed include steps such as the adoption of a traceability manual, traceability certification, and other due diligence. Some of the measures, however, also represent a trade embargo for exports from the DRC and some companies switch suppliers to avoid due diligence. The challenge in the supply chain is to find a system that eliminates forced labour and human rights violations while minimising environmental impact. With the help of blockchain technology, a monitorable supply chain could be created which transparently records every step of the process; this could help bring DRC products back on to the market.