About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by
- (a) Argentina
- (b) Botswana
- (c) the Democratic Republic of the Congo ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) Kazakhstan
Why the answer is (c)
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces roughly 70–75% of the world's cobalt, mainly as a by-product of copper mining in the Katanga copperbelt around Kolwezi and Lubumbashi.
• Cobalt is a key cathode material in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, and the DRC's dominance — with Chinese firms controlling much of the refining — makes it a critical-minerals concern.
• The trade is also notorious for artisanal mining and child labour.
• Argentina is known for lithium, Botswana for diamonds and Kazakhstan for uranium; none is a major cobalt producer.
• Hence option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Argentina
- Argentina is a lithium producer, not a cobalt producer.
- (b) Botswana
- Botswana is known for diamonds, not cobalt.
- (d) Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan leads in uranium, not cobalt.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.