Congo’s biggest miner of coltan, an ore that is the source of metals used in mobile phones, says it is leaving the ITSCI certification scheme, relied on by major companies as a guarantee that minerals are free from human rights abuses. Societe Miniere de Bisunzu (SMB), has given 30 days notice to end its contract with ITSCI, a responsible supply chain initiative, Philippe Stuyck, communications director at SMB told Reuters, citing the scheme’s rising costs.
