[atlasunshrugged]

Hey! Curious what impact you've seen of the mining sector in the country but especially towards wildlife and economic development? I have heard the country wants to move up the value chain too, any feelings on whether doing something like processing (requires lots of skilled workers and 24/7 power) is actually realistic? Do you have any recommendations/travel guides for someone who would want to come visit and not just stay in the capitol?

[caseyslaught]

You're definitely right that DRC wants to move up the value chain. Most raw materials are shipped out of the country for processing or smuggled to neighboring states (gold). However, the impact on wildlife is most certainly negative. The economic development impact is pretty unclear; DRC has shown time and again that mineral wealth is equitably distributed. Despite the jobs some new processing plants might afford, the profits from these operations will likely just line the pockets of those in charge.

[atlasunshrugged]

On the latter point, interesting, maybe I'll try to dig up some research on what the counterfactual would be if there was no mining industry; my understanding is that while the conditions are terrible, it does provide jobs for hundreds of thousands if not millions. In regards to distribution of gains... yeah, seems like the whole world is failing at that one, just more egregious in a place where people are starving or having to become child soldiers. That being said, what's the alternative here? Mining companies will come because of the resources and I see no other angle for the DRC to industrialize other than the control they have on the mineral wealth.