Lithium mining in Africa has a dark side that’s coming to light, and it’s not a pretty picture. At a lithium mine in Namibia run by a Chinese company, local workers are living in terrible conditions and facing unsafe work practices. The Mineworkers Union of Namibia found that the local miners are living in tiny, hot shacks without proper ventilation, while the Chinese workers enjoy comfortable air-conditioned rooms and decent bathrooms. The union also criticized the company for failing to provide protective clothing and ensure safety measures for local workers. This is just one of the controversies surrounding the company, with accusations of bribery and misuse of permits for mining. The situation is not much better in other African countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe, where similar human rights abuses and corruption have been documented in lithium mines.
The demand for lithium is on the rise, and Africa holds enormous potential with its untapped lithium reserves. Major economies and international companies are racing to secure access to lithium on the continent, and many African nations are embracing the lithium rush. However, the rush for lithium comes with its own set of problems. Zimbabwe, for example, has banned the export of raw lithium in an effort to get added value from the mineral, but the ban is not being strictly enforced. There are concerns about the lack of benefit to the local communities and the potential for corruption in the lithium mining sector.
China currently has a virtual monopoly on lithium extraction in Africa, raising fears of under-valuation of mineral resources, tax avoidance, and human rights abuses. Calls have been made for increased transparency and oversight in lithium mining to combat corruption and improve governance. It’s clear that the dark side of green energy is casting a shadow over the lithium mining industry in Africa, and there’s a need for greater accountability and responsibility in the pursuit of this valuable resource.