A bipartisan group of lawmakers has raised objections to the Biden administration’s plan to ease sanctions on an Israeli mining executive accused of corrupt practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The move is part of an effort to boost access to metals needed for electric vehicle batteries.
The objection from the four congressional lawmakers comes as the Biden administration aims to allow Dan Gertler, an Israeli billionaire, to sell his financial stake in three mines in Congo. This decision is intended to remove him from the mining trade in the country.
Senior Biden officials argue that this move will benefit Congo, the largest producer of cobalt in the world, by attracting more Western-leaning investors. They claim that Mr. Gertler’s alleged corrupt practices have deterred investors from doing business in the country.
However, the lawmakers, including Representative Joe Wilson and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, have expressed concerns that allowing Mr. Gertler to profit from selling off his holdings in Congo could harm the Congolese people. They argue that Mr. Gertler has not paid restitution to Congo for the estimated $1.3 billion in lost revenue due to corrupt deals.
Cobalt is a crucial component in electric vehicle batteries, particularly for longer-range vehicles. Most cobalt-producing sites in Congo are controlled by Chinese companies, as the last large American-owned mining company exited the country in 2020.
The State Department, White House, and Mr. Gertler have not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawmakers’ objections. The issue raises questions about the balance between economic interests and concerns about corruption and human rights in international business dealings.
