In the past few days, the mines have brought in about two million euros. With 3,000 miners, Cooperamma is the largest regional employer. I ask if there are any children working in his mines.
No, it is not legal. Some police officers confirmed that they were not. Children should be in school, not in the mines.
Helmets, boots, and masks are a must in mines to ensure the safety of workers.
According to Sena, the mines are considered an example in the region. Theyíre is located about 40 miles 60 km from Goma, one of the most beautiful places in Africa.
But it is also among the most dangerous regions. The conflict has been going on for over 20 years.
In 1994, one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century took place in neighboring Rwanda: a genocide that claimed nearly a million lives.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, including many criminals. Since then, survivors and evildoers have lived together in this ever-changing place.
Meanwhile, armed rebel groups clashed with key Congolese resources. We go to the mines with Landry, Robert Seningaís chief engineer.
Seninga saved the Masisi community. Thanks to him, life can go on as normal. But there seems to be little change in the region in recent years. Roads are a disaster.
Every day, people risk their lives to go to work. Several times during our trip, our car almost went off the road into a gorge.
That was close. Slow down and we ended up in the river. Almost there. After five hours on the road, we arrive at Rubaya, the largest coltan mine in the country. About 100,000 people live here.
Among them are Gilles, his wife, and their three children. The family lives in this 15-square-foot 15 sq m home. Everything has its place. The house is too small. We hang shoes on the wall. The children's stuff is here. The adjoining room has a kitchen and a family bed.
The bed is too small. We sleep where my wife cooks here.
The couple moved here 5 years ago, hoping to get rich from the mines. I hope God will help me, so one day I could buy a car like this.
At present, Gilles earns about 5 euros a day. His work is several miles from the center of Rubaya. It takes him an hour and a half to get there. There are hundreds of coltan mines in the area.
The one Gilles works for is called Bamford. The metal is removed from the wall by hand. Itís was easy on the hand. That way we can separate the coltan from the sand.
Once processed, it is an integral part of the production of microelectronic components. This is the place of coltan. It is widely used in cell phones. Gilles has to go to the mine to dig. The road down is slippery.
Linda. Ima? If you know how to do it, it's very easy. There is nothing to hold on to in the 15-meter descent. Downstairs, it's hard to breathe.
Shelves and tunnels are not adequately supported. They are in danger of falling. Gilles starts working with a pick. There is a lot of sand here. It is not over. Withdrawal is the priority, not security.
Bad accidents often happen in these mines. I ask if it is dangerous. Sometimes the stones fall. Landry sees no problem with safety standards.
It is not uncommon for deaths in mines, due to landslides as an example. Not just in Rubaya but everywhere. If the shaft were to collapse now, almost all of us would suffocate.
There are no official statistics, but fatal accidents while coltan mines are common, are not the exception. We note that some miners look very small.
Landry seems uncomfortable with our questions. How old are you? I am twenty Heís twenty years old. He may appear small because he is so small.
But good management. Of Gillesí's 30 or more colleagues, half appear to be under 18 years of age.
In this and other regions, we often meet children who hide behind their cameras. According to UNICEF, more than 40,000 children are working in the DRCí mines.
Although this mineral makes some people rich, it robs others of their childhood and sometimes even their lives. Everyone is trying to profit from the coltan mines, which is why the black market is thriving.
Much of this valuable commodity is being sold under the table to avoid paying taxes to the Congolese government.
This illegal trade took place with the help of Congolese soldiers, who released convoys passing the Army made good money by trading in black markets.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the 20 most corrupt countries in the world. Illegal trade means that Congo loses a few billion euros a year.
Nevertheless, the mining sector has boosted the Congolese economy by about 6 percent by 2018. That economic success is particularly evident in the "30le Boulevard" June "in the DRC capital, Kinshasa.
The road is named after DRC Freedom Day. something that many young Congolese dreams about?
iIt helps. One of those entrepreneurs is celebrating a new lucrative contract. Eric Monga not only runs a business, he is also the head of a commercial organization. Is this the future of the business?
We wish you the best of luck with your project! They fry inexpensive champagne because Eric has good news. He recently returned from Florida to the United States, where he met some investors.
He has assured them that they will fund his outstanding project, which will cost more than 400 million euros.
Is the contract signed? but that is all I can tell you. Weíre was slow to celebrate how well our friend had communicated.
Eric wants to build a hydroelectric power plant. Less than one in five Congolese have access to electricity. He wants to change that. In every case, there is a business opportunity. People need food, they need clothes.
And now we want to make sure they have electricity. He plans to improve living conditions for at least 100 million people in the DRC. Eric Monga is from Lubumbashi, in the southern part of the country.
He acquired wealth through a company focused on mineral analysis. He will then show us the location of his future dam. This place is remote and sparsely populated. This plan will mean bringing in staff from far away. But the challenge is worth it.
The power station will generate about $ 1 million a month. Lots of money. Oops. Welcome to the jungle! Eric set up camp in the middle of the desert. Hosting a team of engineers.
Hi, how are you? About a dozen workers have been living here for about a year.
They have a water tank, a generator, and small sheds. It currently stands at about 735 feet. The top of the dam will be 830 meters.
The water will rise to that level, where the sun is. This is going to be a big pool. At a height of 90 meters, the dam will be one of the largest in the DRC.
It will have a capacity of 150 megawatts, empowering half a million residents. And building it will create about 3,000 jobs. Weíre is doing something that will benefit the region. It is very important for farmers.
They need electricity to develop agriculture. A few investors, especially Americans, have shown interest in the project. Eric hopes to complete construction within three years.
He believes that people can be successful if they have the courage to jump into the unknown. Many people have found success here. Why not me?
If you work hard, you can make a lot of money here in a short time. Eric is not alone in this struggle. More and more Congolese are becoming entrepreneurs, throwing themselves into business.
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