Coltan from Central Africa, international trade and implications for any certification

摘要: The exploitation of coltan in Central Africa can be considered a case conflict minerals due to its nature. Many international organizations and bodies, national governments private sector seek address this conflict, particular via transparency, certification accountability along the material supply chain. This paper analyses trade dimension gives evidence on illicit coltan. authors start from hypothesis that sooner or later will enter market reflected statistics. is structured following manner: first, short section profile production markets; second, an overview mining situation Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) related actors. third addresses mechanisms, actors measurement issues involved final part draws lessons for analysis offers some guidance future research. The identifies two main possible gateways trace illegal coltan: neighboring countries, especially Rwanda, importing countries downstream production, China. Our estimation value such comes close $27 million annually (2009), roughly one-fifth world volume tantalum production. With regard any concludes become challenging business policy: (a) currently largest supplier market, many profit current possess abilities hide responsibility; (b) China need accept more responsibility, first step would acceptance OECD guidelines diligence; (c) better regional governance comprises resource taxation, fund fiscal coordination. An task force may provide robust data, however research also needed.