Channel Seven's Spotlight programme has faced criticism over its recent special investigation into cobalt mining, which was accused of failing to meet basic journalistic standards. The report, aired on Sunday evening, linked Australian renewable energy projects to unethical mining practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but experts say it omitted crucial context.
The programme featured reporter Liam Bartlett, who formerly worked for Shell, visiting an artisanal mine in Kolwezi. It portrayed efforts to shift away from fossil fuels as morally bankrupt, claiming such endeavours were destroying rainforests and increasing reliance on China. However, critics noted that the segment did not include important facts about cobalt supply chains.
According to the US Geological Survey, around 90% of cobalt from Congo comes from industrial mines, not the artisanal mines shown. An industry group added that about 99% of cobalt is a by-product of mining other minerals. The report also failed to mention that many batteries now use cobalt-free technology, such as lithium iron phosphate, which accounts for half of electric vehicle batteries and 90% of home and grid-scale batteries.
Amnesty International Australia disputed the programme’s claim that the Hornsdale big battery in South Australia “almost certainly” contains so-called “blood cobalt”. The organisation said it had not made any specific connection between mining practices in the DRC and the battery operator, and does not generally use the term “blood cobalt”.
Experts also criticised the segment for not seeking sufficient rights of reply and for its focus on China, arguing that the problems in Congolese mining predate Chinese involvement. The University of Sydney’s Professor Susan Park noted that artisanal workers are there because of extreme poverty, and that blaming China denies the agency of the Congolese government.
