2021-08-03

LUBUMBASHI, KOLWEZI, BERLIN - To make the batteries for electric cars, manufacturers need cobalt. This documentary shows the efforts of the European car industry to ensure proper supply chains, and documents in the cobalt mines in the Congo that this is impossible.

Whoever buys an electric car wants an automobile that has the least possible impact on the environment. But to make the batteries for electric cars, manufacturers need cobalt. This coveted raw material is mined under conditions of human suffering.

The 45 minute long documentary "Clean cars, dirty batteries - cobalt mining in the Congo" aired on the German public TV channel ZDFinfo. It shows the efforts of the European car industry to ensure proper supply chains, and documents in the cobalt mines in the Congo that this is impossible.

Clean cars dirty batteries
still from the ZDF documentary Saubere Autos, schmutzige Batterien - Kobaltabbau im Kongo
Clean cars dirty batteries
still from the ZDF documentary Saubere Autos, schmutzige Batterien - Kobaltabbau im Kongo

 

Team members

Carina Körner

Carina Körner is an investigative journalist from Germany.

Carina Körner

Eric Mwamba

Eric Mwamba is a Congolese investigative journalist and founder of Grand Journal, a weekly investigative paper in Kinshasa.

Eric Mwamba

Vanessa Schlesier

Vanessa Schlesier is a freelance TV-journalist based in Berlin. 

Lukas Augustin

Lukas Augustin is a filmmaker and journalist based in Berlin, Germany.

Supported
A grant of €8,000 was awarded on 14/12/2018
ID
MT/2018/043

need resources for your own investigative story?

Journalismfund Europe's flexible grants programmes enable journalists to produce relevant public interest stories with a European mind-set from international, national, and regional perspectives.

Apply

support independent cross-border investigative journalism

We rely on your support to continue the work that we do. Make a gift of any amount today.

Donate