The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced a government-led inspection of the world’s largest cobalt mine after its Chinese operator, CMOC Group Limited (CMOC), admitted for the first time that its processing plant was responsible for spikes in toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions in 2023 and 2024, reversing almost two years of denials.
The DRC government announced on March 25 that a government-led inspection would soon take place at the Tenke Fungurume Mine (TFM), following the release of the “Toxic Transition” report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Congolese group PremiCongo, which alleged that CMOC had polluted the air and caused a public health crisis in the Fungurume area. EIA and PremiCongo have said they will seek to participate in the field mission as independent observers.
The admission and inspection order mark a turning point in a dispute that has unfolded over nearly three years. Independent air monitoring commissioned by the EIA and conducted between September 2024 and January 2025 found SO2 levels well in excess of international safety standards in the Manomapia neighbourhood, with concentrations remaining above safe thresholds for several hours at a time.
According to multiple sources interviewed by EIA investigators, significant volumes of SO2 were released even after warning alarms had sounded, with personnel reportedly continuing to operate machinery out of fear of reprisals for halting production.
The human cost documented in the investigation is extensive. Analysis of more than 1,200 health records from a clinic near TFM’s processing facility showed residents reporting nosebleeds, persistent coughing, and vomiting of blood at unusually high rates since the 30k plant began operations in 2023. Increases in miscarriages and birth defects have also been reported. The report also found that more than 12,000 people had been displaced by TFM’s expansion since 2022, with some residents receiving as little as $60 in compensation and reportedly asked to sign relocation agreements before being told how much they would receive.
EIA Executive Director Alexander von Bismarck called on CMOC to publish its complete daily SO2 monitoring data publicly and in full, saying disclosure was necessary but insufficient on its own to guarantee residents’ safety. The agency said it was also supporting the establishment of a community-led air monitoring programme near the mine.
CMOC’s admission comes alongside the company’s disclosure of record cobalt production of 117,549 tonnes in 2025. Analysts have noted that the inspection announcement could invite fines, operational halts, or stricter compliance obligations, adding regulatory pressure to a company that has already dominated global cobalt supply.
Despite the escalation, major international automakers have not publicly responded. Supply chain analysis in the “Toxic Transition” report traced cobalt from the Tenke Fungurume site to electric vehicles produced by BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, and Volkswagen. EIA has urged those companies to support community-led monitoring, participate in independent oversight processes, and revise their due diligence practices.
