On the southern border of DR Congo, trucks carrying cobalt to Zambia may soon be checked by unconditional radiation detectors as uranium contamination in the ores powers the electric revolution.

The country is the world’s largest Cobalt producer, yet its biggest mines routinely contain radioactive materials. Between 2000 and 2024 the cobalt exports were enough to produce 600 nuclear weapons or fuel a 1GW reactor for a decade, if extracted and enriched.

Experts warn that without robust state oversight, uranium‑laden ore could fall into the wrong hands. Cmoc’s Tenke Fungurume mine, a major exporter, has repeatedly exceeded legal thresholds, though the company claims its output complies with global standards.

Workers face long‑term radiation exposure, while newborns in Lubumbashi show higher birth‑defect rates linked to mining. The DR Congo is now seeking funding to install detectors at borders, aiming to curb smuggling and protect both the nation and the world.