Metals, Mine Cos Buying Congo Conflict Minerals-Global Witness
2009年7月21日 - 8:31AM
Dow Jones News
A number of metals and mining companies, including a subsidiary
of U.K .-based broker Amalgamated Metal Corporation PLC and
Belgium's Trademet, have been buying minerals from Congo that are
funding armed groups and fueling conflict, non-governmental
organization Global Witness said in a report published Tuesday.
AMC's Bangkok-based subsidiary Thaisarco, the world's fifth
largest producer of tin, is "fueling the conflict in eastern Congo"
by receiving minerals from a local trading company linked to the
warring factions, Global Witness said. Congo government data shows
Thaisarco bought minerals supplied by this local trading firm, the
report says. AMC also owns Amalgamated Metal Trading Ltd., a London
Metal Exchange ring dealer.
"Global Witness is calling on the U.K. government to request
that the United Nations Sanctions Committee add the U.K.-based
entities of AMC and their directors to the list of companies and
individuals against whom sanctions should be imposed," the report
said.
The report details how foreign companies are buying from
suppliers trading in minerals from the warring parties in east
Congo, and called on the International Criminal Court to
investigate them and initiate prosecutions where necessary. It also
asked for foreign companies to conduct due diligence, and for
governments to cut off warring parties' access to the mines and to
hold companies accountable.
Many mining areas in eastern Congo which produce minerals
including cassiterite, or tin ore, coltan and gold, are controlled
by rebels and the national army. Cassiterite and coltan are used to
make mobile phones, computers and other electronics.
Global Witness said international companies are using the fact
that trading houses in Congo have government licenses as
justification for continuing to trade with them. Foreign companies
don't verify the exact origin of the minerals or the identity of
the intermediaries, the report said, when in reality these trading
houses are among the main facilitators of the illicit trade.
In December and January Global Witness wrote to over 200
companies, including Malaysia Smelting Corp. Berhad (5916.KU), U.S.
Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold (FCX) and Luxembourg-based
minerals merchant Traxys SA, to inquire about their trade with
Congo and their due diligence policies. According to Global
Witness, "most had no controls in place to stop conflict minerals
entering their supply chain."
AMC responded Jan. 19 and Thaisarco on both Jan. 20 and March
18, with the pair "(attempting) to create a distance between their
trade and the situation in eastern Congo by stating that they do
not operate directly in Congo," the report said.
Belgium's Trademet meanwhile responded Jan. 22 and "tried to
shift the burden of responsibility onto the Congolese government"
by stating it wasn't the company's role to verify the origin of
Congo's minerals, the report noted.
Global Witness doesn't advocate that mining activities in
eastern Congo cease altogether or that trade is boycotted as there
are sections of the mineral trade which aren't controlled by any of
the warring parties. Congo produces roughly 6% of total global tin
production a year, according to the International Tin Research
Institute.
-By Andrea Hotter, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9413;
andrea.hotter@dowjones.com