About this episode

The episode discusses the severe health consequences faced by communities near the Tenke Fungurume Mine in the DRC due to emissions from the mine operated by CMOC Group.

A three-year investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Congolese NGO Premi Congo uncovered severe health consequences for communities living near the Tenke Fungurume Mine (TFM) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world's largest copper-cobalt mine. Residents report nosebleeds, coughing up blood, and a troubling rise in stillbirths, all linked to high levels of sulfur dioxide emitted by a processing plant at TFM operated by Chinese mining giant CMOC Group. Luke Allen, a senior African program campaigner and one of the authors of the report, joins Eric & Géraud to discuss how the investigation also exposed major problems in corporate certifications that are supposed to call out this kind of environmental harm, but instead gave cover to the very companies causing it. 📌 Topics Covered in this Episode: The 3-year EIA investigation into the TFM mine Health impacts on communities near the mine CMOC's denial and response Failures in corporate certification China's mining footprint in the DRC The human cost of the green energy supply chain Show Notes: Environmental Investigation Agency: Toxic Transition - How the world's largest cobalt producer has allegedly…

People in this episode

Hosts: Eric, Géraud

Guest: Luke Allen

Topics covered

• health impacts
• mining
• environmental harm
• corporate certification
• green energy supply chain
• sulfur dioxide emissions

Keywords

• health consequences
• Tenke Fungurume Mine
• sulfur dioxide
• CMOC Group
• EIA investigation
• stillbirths
• environmental certification

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Environmental Investigation Agency, Premi Congo, CMOC Group

Products: copper-cobalt

Places: Democratic Republic of Congo, Tenke Fungurume Mine

More episodes of The China in Africa Podcast

• Why 3 African States Said No to Taiwan · April 23, 2026 · 50 min
• China, Surveillance, and Africa's Digital Transformation · April 16, 2026 · 55 min
• Awkward China-Africa Conversations in Washington, D.C. · April 9, 2026 · 57 min
• China's Economic Relationship With Africa Is Entering a New Phase · March 26, 2026 · 41 min
• View From Washington: What the US Needs to Do to Re-Engage Africa · March 19, 2026 · 54 min
• Comparing U.S. and Chinese Aid Strategies in Africa · March 12, 2026 · 57 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The China in Africa Podcast podcast page.