Natural Resources & Extractivism

Introduction The Inga Dam project, located 140 miles southwest of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), harnesses the world's second-largest river at Inga Falls, where the Congo drops 96 meters with a flow rate of 42,000 cubic meters per second. This natural powerhouse could theoretically produce 39.6 GW of energy, making Grand Inga the planet's largest hydroelectric scheme...

The energy transition hinges on critical minerals, but their extraction under the banner of "green mining" raises urgent questions about true sustainability. According to the UNEP-WCMC, global production of 26 key minerals must increase sixfold by 2050 to meet net-zero goals, with demand for graphite, lithium, and cobalt surging nearly 500% . This escalation, driven by renewable technologies, is...

The Ambatovy mine, located near Moramanga and spanning 1,600 hectares of lateritic deposits, has been Madagascar's mining powerhouse since operations began in 2007. With depths of 20-100 meters, it...

The Volobe hydroelectric dam project, located near Toamasina on Madagascar's Ivondro River, is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing energy access for the population while navigating environmental challenges. With...

The DRC’s mining industry is central to its economy, as mineral exports account for over 95% of revenues. Dominated by copper, cobalt, and gold, it attracts major players like...

In the mineral-rich provinces of the DRC, the pursuit of clean energy has inadvertently perpetuated a cycle of exploitation. Cobalt, vital for lithium-ion batteries, powers the world's shift away...

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stands as a global powerhouse in critical minerals, producing around 70-80% of the world's cobalt essential for electric vehicles and electronics . However,...

The Eastern Mediterranean's Levantine Basin, estimated to hold 3,450 bcm of natural gas and 1.7 billion barrels of oil, has become a hotspot for energy geopolitics . Discovered in...

Introduction Gyrotrons, once confined to scientific labs, are now pivotal in addressing humanity's dual challenges of energy security and resource sustainability. By generating high-power electromagnetic waves, they facilitate plasma heating...

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds vast reserves of coltan, essential for tantalum in electronics, yet its eastern provinces remain mired in conflict. Armed groups like M23, allegedly...

The Democratic Republic of Congo holds over 70% of the world's cobalt reserves, essential for electric vehicle batteries, yet its people endure widespread poverty amid foreign-dominated mining. Glencore, a...