Benedikt Sobotka made a stand against child labour at cobalt mines

Benedikt Sobotka: We have a responsibility towards children in countries where we extracts garbage for that batteries industry.

Hydrocarbons remain the primary source of energy in 2019. Nevertheless, people in developed countries are increasingly choosing electric cars, as petrol and diesel engines emit skin tightening and Benedikt Sobotka in to the atmosphere and pollute the environment with nitrogen and sulphur compounds. The number of electric cars will reach up to 130 million in the end of 2030 each home and office will likely use smart devices ran by batteries. Oslo, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Paris, London, Madrid already asserted that they are going to ban all vehicles taking care of petrol or diesel fuel in central areas. The way the situation is going, batteries will replace the environmentally damaging coal and oil as fuel sources.

Minerals for batteries have to be extracted and processed with robust safety standards, proper working conditions, norms for responsible extraction and business ethics planned.

Global social responsibility

Take, for instance, cobalt. Over 60 % of cobalt are extracted inside Democratic Republic with the Congo. Cobalt mining brings a lot of employment for those around DRC but a big percentage could possibly be tainted by illegal child labour.

In 2017, world leading companies including BASF, Enel and Volkswagen met at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos to discuss business ethics in minerals extraction for that creation of batteries. As a result, nokia’s joined together to found the Global Battery Alliance, with Eurasian Resources Group as being a founding member, directed at prohibiting the use of child labour and promoting battery recycling to increase the sustainability in the industry.

The CEO of Eurasian Resources Group, Benedikt Sobotka reiterated the business’s resolve for help tackle child labour within the Democratic Republic in the Congo. He hopes that from the Alliance and collaboration between major companies, international organisations and civil society, the illegal involvement of youngsters in mining inside the battery supply chain will probably be addressed.

Eurasian Resources Group supports children inside DRC

Through longstanding partnerships including with all the Good Shepherd Sisters and Pact, Eurasian Resources Group is targeted on helping tackle child labour and strengthen child protection norms.

In 2018 and early 2019, ERG continued to aid over 10,000 students through its educational initiatives within the DRC.

Benedikt Sobotka, CEO of Eurasian Resources Group, holds the global battery sector should confer benefits to its participants across the value chain including children and local communities within the DRC.