A hard-hitting documentary produced by University of Bath filmmakers that highlights the working conditions of cobalt miners in Africa has been shown at the United Nations to raise awarenss of their plight.
Cobalt Rush was produced in-house by university development scholar Prof Roy Maconachie, filmmaker Simon Wharf and Dr Bossissi Nkuba, a specialist in mining governance from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Shot on location in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga Provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the 20-minute film sheds light on the gruelling conditions artisanal operators must endure, while at the same time exploring universal themes of ambition, hope and the obligation to make ends meet.
Cobalt Rush, which won two film awards last year, was screened at United Nation headquarters in New York during the first-ever UN General Assembly Sustainability Week, convened by the president of the General Assembly.
As the global demand for cobalt – an essential element in batteries for electric vehicles and consumer electronics – continues to grow rapidly, the perilous and abusive working conditions of its miners remain largely ‘invisible’.
The film follows the lives of three cobalt miners, exposing the extreme poverty, health concerns and exploitation they face every day.
Prof Maconachie said: “We created this film to give voice to the artisanal miners, or ‘cresuers’, as they are referred to locally, who operate on the outskirts of large-scale mining operations under horrific conditions.
“To take their story to the UN is a significant moment, and we hope it will play a key part in waking up the world to the need for social and environmental justice in the global transition for green, sustainable energy.”
Hosted by the World Council of Peoples for the United Nations (WCPUN) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the event was designed to raise awareness of the predicament of cobalt workers and to seek solutions to improve their working conditions.
Following the screening, a panel discussion was moderated by Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, ILO special representative to the UN.
Simon Wharf added: “These men and women face perilous working conditions, human rights abuses, and are paid poverty wages, but they still find hope and ambition.
“It was a privilege to work with them and we hope that screening the film on such an important international stage will help to bring meaningful change."
Cobalt Rush was among the winners at the Learning on Screen Awards 2023, landing the title of Best Educational Film award. It also secured the prestigious Premier Award at a ceremony at the British Film Institute.
The film builds on previous projects from Maconachie and Wharf , including Voices from the Mine – which focused on the artisanal diamond supply chain in Sierra Leone – and Gender and Fairtrade – which exposed conditions for female cocoa farmers in Ghana.
To watch Cobalt Rush, click here
