Tantalum and tungsten consumers are being urged to continue sourcing material from central Africa, despite an ongoing due diligence dispute. The call comes from the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI) and the Tantalum and Niobium International Study Centre (TIC).
ITSCI assists companies with due diligence and raw material traceability for the 3T conflict minerals — tungsten, tin and tantalum — around the Great Lakes region of central Africa. The organisation has been in dispute with the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) since 2022 regarding its recognition as an upstream due diligence mechanism.
The RMI works with smelters and processors to ensure that companies source material from conflict-free areas through its Responsible Minerals Assurance Programme (RMAP) assessments.
Despite the ongoing dispute, ITSCI has urged companies to continue sourcing material from the Great Lakes region, telling Argus "RMAP standards do not require auditees to only use recognised mechanisms and [RMI] has also confirmed that ITSCI information can be used for RMAP audits. We therefore encourage everyone to continue sourcing from the region. ITSCI is currently engaging with the RMI as a matter of utmost priority to find a resolution of the situation and positive discussions are under way."
The TIC — a tantalum and niobium industry association — has also urged companies to continue buying material from central Africa. "Abandoning artisanal mined material is not a viable long-term solution. While the market remains slow that is an option. But when the market turns, central African-sourced materials will be required to meet market demands," TIC president Dr Daniel Persico said. "While the lack of recognition of ITSCI by the RMI is an issue, ITSCI remains a viable upstream mechanism, as witnessed by the results of their OECD alignment assessment. Traders and smelters can still use ITSCI, as in the past, albeit with increased due diligence requirements."
As a result of the dispute, some consumers of tungsten concentrates and tantalite told Argus that they have stopped sourcing material from the Great Lakes region because of the additional due diligence work they may have to do to prove that the material they buy is conflict-free.
