🌱 What are conflict minerals?
In many conflict areas or politically unstable regions, the trade of minerals may be used to purchase weapons and fund armed groups. This trading may be linked to corruption and money laundering, and it can cause human rights abuses. The minerals traded in this context are therefore referred to as “conflict minerals”.
🌱 What are 3TG minerals?
Tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold – collectively referred to as “3TG” – are common conflict minerals. These four minerals are also a key focus in legislation on conflict minerals. Both the EU’s Conflict Minerals Regulation and Section 1502 of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Act of 2010, for example, cover the 3TG minerals.
🌱 Where do conflict minerals come from?
Conflict minerals can originate from any country or area that is “conflict-affected” or otherwise “high-risk”. The EU, for example, considers two main factors when assessing if a mineral is a conflict mineral. The first factor is whether the mineral being traded is “in high demand, either locally, regionally or globally”. The second factor is whether the area the mineral originates from is “either suffering from armed-conflict, such as civil war, a state of fragile post-conflict, or witnessing weak or non-existing governance and systematic violations of international law, including human rights abuses”.[i] That said, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries are commonly considered key “high-risk” countries and are hence the focus of many current laws.
🌱 In what products are conflict minerals found?
Conflict minerals can be found in electronics, cars, and jewelry. As 3TG or conflict minerals may be used in renewable energy technologies, there is also a concern that the “failure to engage in responsible sourcing practices could increase conflict and fragility risks along the green energy supply chains of these key minerals and metals, stalling or reversing local development gains”.[ii]
🌱 Where can companies find guidance on conflict minerals?
Many countries or regions have laws on conflict minerals in place. For example, the EU’s Conflict Minerals Regulation as well as Section 1502 of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 provide a legal framework for the trade of conflict minerals. More broadly, companies can find guidance on conflict minerals in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.
Explore our module on conflict minerals here.
[i] https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/development-and-sustainability/conflict-minerals-regulation/regulation-explained_en