Via SportTechie, an article on a planned large-scale investment in the DRC:

BlueTech Investments, a private equity firm led by Hall of Fame basketball player Dikembe Mutombo, is investing $1 billion toward ethical mining projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funds aim to support conflict-free mining of copper, cobalt and other minerals needed to make batteries for electric vehicles.

More than 5,000 jobs for Congolese citizens will be created as part of BlueTech’s investment, which aims to develop the Congo as a secure supply chain for U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing and the broader U.S. technology sector. 

Mutombo’s native Democratic Republic of Congo is home to 68% of the world’s cobalt reserves, a key metal used to power electric vehicle batteries. However, the cobalt mining industry in the Congo is plagued with corruption, child labor exploitation and other human rights violations.

BlueTech’s investment includes plans to implement a blockchain network in the Congo that would trace minerals throughout their lifecycle, adding more transparency to the mining process. Local authorities in the Congo would ideally be able to access the blockchain to detect potential corruption.

“BlueTech promotes environmentally conscious mining, along with blockchain integrated track-and-trace methodologies, anti-corruption efforts, and the elimination of child labor exploitation,” BlueTech says on its website.