Vodafone Coltan

Report

Tantalum is a rare, valuable, metallic element that is twice as dense as steel and highly resistant to heat and corrosion. It can store and release an electrical charge, a property that has made it a vital material for capacitors in miniaturized and portable electronic equipment including mobile phones. It is mined in several countries with Australia responsible for over 60% of world production. In 2000, increased demand for new electronic products caused a tantalum supply shortfall, precipitating a rush of panic buying and a massive price increase. This Vodafone-funded report looks at how tantalum-using industries – including major mobile manufacturers – can commit to the reconstruction of the DRC.