Cobalt, a hard, lustrous, and silvery metal, is commonly produced as a byproduct of copper and nickel mining. The paper investigates the role of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the international cobalt market, particularly elaborating on the goals that Chinese investors pursue with their investment approach in the Central African country. Furthermore, the paper provides some background on how Chinese investors gained control over the majority of the global cobalt resources and how China intends to use the metal in the course of the "Made in China 2025" initiative.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
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The abundance of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo and how it impacts the international cobalt market.
- Cobalt's relevance in the manufacture of electron devices and lithium batteries
- The surge in demand for cobalt
- The importance of the DRC to the international cobalt market
- The dominance of Congolese mines in the cobalt market
- Cobalt extraction from artisanal mines
- Potential alternatives to cobalt
- Cobalt's continued significance for the automotive industry
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How did Chinese investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo set the stage for China to mold the power structure in the cobalt market?
- The increase in Chinese FDI flows to Africa
- The allocation of Chinese FDI flows across industries
- China's role as a major trading partner for African countries
- The rise of Chinese investment in developing countries
- What are the underlying motives that China pursues with this investment approach in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The aim of this analysis is to understand the role of cobalt as a key driver for Chinese investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It explores how Chinese investment has shaped the power structure in the cobalt market, highlighting the motivations behind China's approach to investment in the DRC.
- Cobalt as a critical resource for the electric vehicle market
- Chinese investment strategy in Africa and the DRC
- The impact of Chinese investment on the cobalt market
- The ethical and environmental implications of cobalt mining
- Potential alternatives to cobalt and their limitations
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter I examines the abundance of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its influence on the global cobalt market. It highlights the crucial role of cobalt in modern technology, particularly in the production of lithium batteries for electric vehicles. The chapter further discusses the increasing demand for cobalt and the impact of artisanal mining on working conditions and the environment.
Chapter II analyzes the surge in Chinese investment in Africa, with a particular focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo. It explores how Chinese investment has shaped the power structure in the cobalt market and investigates the motivations behind China's investment approach.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This analysis focuses on cobalt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chinese investment, electric vehicles, lithium batteries, artisanal mining, and the impact of resource extraction on the environment and human rights.
- Quote paper
- Niklas Jakob (Author), 2023, The exploitation of cobalt as a key driver for Chinese investment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1452380
