Rwanda Hosts First Tantalum-Tracking Blockchain Network

On Oct. 16, in a bid to draw investors by providing a proven source of conflict-free minerals, Rwanda mining authorities announced a blockchain network to track the mineral tantalum - which is used in manufacturing most electronics such as mobile phones.

Rwanda announces world's first blockchain project to track tantalum from the pit-face to the refinery, part of a push to reassure investors it's a conflict-free source of minerals.

Its utility has caused it to become quite valuable, and the regions where its mined have come under fire for the high human costs reportedly associated with its mining.

Rwanda hopes to change that by partnering with Circulor, a British blockchain startup, and Power Resources Group, a mining company working in Rwanda and Macedonia, according to Reuters.

Their goal is the creation of a blockchain-based tracking system for tantalum that will monitor it "From the pit-face to the refinery."

Rwanda has long faced allegations of illicit mining practices and is currently staving off allegations that some of its mineral resources are being used to fuel a bloody conflict in the Congo region.

There are similar tracking systems already in use by companies like diamond retailer De Beers, who tracks their product to ensure the diamonds weren't harvested through child labor or associated with any conflict.

A challenge to the tracking of tantalum mineral is that it needs to be refined.

PRG said it will take measures to prevent these exact circumstances, including facial recognition and GPS tracking in addition to the blockchain.

Circulor has also worked with car manufacturer BMW to help in tracking sources of ethical cobalt for use in their vehicles, mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo.