The recent BBC visit to the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reveals an opportunity to showcase what mining could do for local communities – but will the industry pick up the baton?

The DRC is one of the world’s greatest cornucopias of mineral wealth, but is also long afflicted by brutal internal conflicts fueled by those very same resources. Following some deal making by the US Trump administration with the DRC and Rwanda plus a ceasefire agreement, there is a possibility that US mining companies might invest in the region.  

The BBC article focused on the over 10,000 people working daily in dangerous conditions for minimal pay in what is basically a large artisanal mining operation. US mining companies could change all that and demonstrate that mineral extraction can be a force for genuine development rather than short term exploitation.

The current situation at Rubaya, as described by the BBC, is a nuanced one.

One miner called Peter Osiasi told reporters that mining has "really helped" him save money for marriage and family. But he also described the harsh reality of working in extreme underground temperatures with harmful gases and earning "very little money." His contrasting perspective – grateful for the opportunity yet struggling with terrible work conditions – is a good example of the complex challenge facing any international investor seeking to operate ethically in a tough environment.

A warning 
The mine supervisor, Patrice Musafiri, appointed by the M23 rebel group currently controlling the area, voiced conditions, which sound very much like a call for responsible mining: "Any foreign investor can come here, as long as they come with development for our people and increase daily wages for the miners."

It’s a call that any mining company looking to operate there would be wise to head. Amnesty International holds stacks of files on the acts of violence committed by this group.

The most immediate opportunity for improvement lies in workplace safety and pay. The BBC report details miners working in tunnels with dangerously high temperatures and toxic gases, using basic tools like shovels to extract ore that ultimately powers our smart phones.

Transforming lives
A responsible mining company could transform these conditions by introducing proper ventilation systems, safety equipment, and structural engineering to prevent tunnel collapses. More importantly, implementing living wages would boost the workers' ability to support their families with dignity.

Infrastructure development represents another crucial area where international investment could create lasting benefits. The BBC notes that most mining communities in the DRC lack basic infrastructure, including accessible roads to the mines. A mining company could build transport networks that serve both operational needs and community development, connecting remote mining areas to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities.

Bringing legitimacy 
Responsible mining offers perhaps the most significant opportunity for positive change. Currently, the artisanal miners at Rubaya operate under the authority of an armed group, with UN experts reporting that M23 rakes in hundreds of thousands of dollars a month from taxing coltan (short for columbite-tantalites also known as tantalite – an ore from which the elements niobium and tantalum are extracted).

A legitimate mining company could play a big part in shifting these operations from opaque rebel control to regulated, transparent business practices. This would include implementing conflict-free mineral certification, establishing worker rights, and ensuring compliance with international environmental standards.

Looking beyond mining 
That investment can have a profound wide ranging impact beyond just the mining operations and the living conditions of those living nearby. The BBC report mentions women working at the mine site selling food and water to miners, highlighting that a broader economic ecosystem has grown up around the mine.

A thoughtful approach would integrate these existing businesses into more formal supply chains, provide microfinance opportunities for family enterprises, and create value-added processing capabilities that keep more economic benefit within the community.

However, this is a politically complex region where things can easily go wrong. In fact, not much has gone right in the Congo for centuries.

Not for the faint hearted
Operating in a post-conflict environment where various armed groups have controlled mining operations would require sophisticated deal making. Hopefully this is where a responsible mining company can help as a stabilising force.  

As political analyst Akramm Tumsifu suggested to the BBC, the presence of American investors (with the implied support of the US and Rwanda which allegedly backs M23) could act as a "caution against fighting or a resurgence of other armed groups." Creating legitimate economic opportunities that all benefit from can often be more effective than military interventions in creating lasting peace.

Delicate balancing act
The transformation of Rubaya from rebel-controlled artisanal mining to a legitimate operation would require a careful balancing of competing interests. For instance, it is critical that M23 and its members feel incentivised not to wreak havoc because they felt left out.

Also, Chinese companies currently dominate the DRC's mining sector and from what I can gather from reports they take a very exploitative approach to the country’s resources.

This is where US or Western investment must show clear advantages for local communities of working with them. This means prioritising community needs, ensuring local hiring and training programmes, and paving pathways for artisanal miners to transition into formal employment with better wages and conditions.

Ethical supply chains
As consumers increasingly demand ethical supply chains, mining companies that can demonstrate genuine community development and worker welfare should develop a competitive advantage through a social licence to operate. The Rubaya mine, holding 15% of the world's coltan supply, could become a showcase for how extractive industries can contribute to economic development and the wellbeing of local communities.

Peter Osiasi's appeal to mine owners to "increase our pay because it's very little" should resonate with any mining executive reading the BBC report and looking to do the right thing.

Of course making this work isn’t just down to the mining industry, even though it would play a pivotal role. The political stars must also align, which is the most challenging bit. However, if it can be pulled off under the umbrella of US power that would be a truly remarkable outcome for one of the world’s most deprived and strife-ridden regions