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 Tony Mwamba

Eric Mwamba is a Congolese-Australian journalist.

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.

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