中資非法採金毀剛果生態

荷蘭非營利組織PAX最新報告指出，中國礦商在剛果民主共和國（DRC）上韋萊省（Haut-Uélé）大規模非法採金，造成嚴重的森林與河川破壞，並加劇當地極端貧困。報告顯示，中資與剛果地方合作社名義合作，實際進行大型機械化金礦開採，且獲得軍警庇護，連地方官員也被阻止進入現場。

Netherlands-based peace advocacy group PAX has released a report accusing Chinese mining investors of running large-scale illegal gold operations in Haut-Uélé province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to PAX, these activities have devastated at least 155 miles of rivers and streams, worsening poverty in one of the world’s most fragile regions.

根據PAX調查，這些以「小型採礦合作社」為名的礦場，其實是中國投資者主導的半工業化礦區。衛星影像顯示，大片森林被挖出金色裂縫，至少155英里長的河川與溪流被迫改道以配合重型機具。

Under Congolese law, small-scale cooperatives may mine under license. However, PAX found that these cooperatives are used as a façade for mechanized, semi-industrial mining led by Chinese nationals. Satellite images show vast forests carved with gold-colored scars and entire riverbeds diverted to accommodate heavy machinery. Local officials said the mines operate under protection from the army and police, with authorities barred from inspecting the sites.

環境與健康危機 報告警告，這些礦坑採金後遺留下數公里長的坑洞，常在雨季積水，對兒童與居民構成溺水風險。

Environmental and Health Crisis PAX warns that mining has left kilometers-long chains of pits that flood during rains, creating drowning hazards for children and residents. Mercury and cyanide used in processing contaminate waterways feeding the Congo River Basin, home to endangered species such as gorillas, okapi, and pangolins. Villagers report dried-up rivers, destroyed farmland, and deteriorating health, with mercury exposure posing severe neurological risks, particularly to children. Haut-Uélé is already among the poorest regions globally, where 88 percent of children live in poverty.

更嚴重的是，採礦過程使用的汞與氰化物污染流入剛果河流域，危及棲息於此的瀕危物種如大猩猩、霍加皮與穿山甲。

當地居民反映，河流乾涸、農田被毀、健康惡化，尤其汞中毒恐造成兒童神經損傷。

上韋萊省本已是全球最貧困地區之一，兒童貧困率高達88%。

One local activist stated, “Mining carried out by the Chinese destroys everything in its path: forests, fields, water, and in this case, the population is sacrificed and human rights are violated.”

一名當地維權人士直言：「中國礦商的採礦摧毀一切：森林、農地、水源，而居民與人權成為犧牲品。」

Rising Tensions and Global Implications The illegal mining surge began in 2020 amid rising gold prices and global demand. China, a major gold consumer and a key investor in the DRC through its Belt and Road Initiative, has focused heavily on mining and construction. Communities are losing farmland without compensation and being forced to pay for formerly free drinking water, fueling local anger and instability.

衝突與國際關注 自2020年全球金價飆升以來，剛果非法金礦迅速擴張，中國作為世界主要黃金消費國，並透過一帶一路倡議加大在剛果的礦業與基建投資。但這些擴張造成的土地掠奪與無補償失地引發社區不滿，許多家庭被迫為原本免費的飲用水付費，生活陷入更深困境。

The Congolese embassy in Washington, D.C. did not respond to PAX’s findings, while China’s embassy said it was unaware of the allegations but stressed that Chinese citizens must comply with local laws.

剛果駐美大使館未回應此事，中國駐當地大使館則表示不知情，但強調中國公民應遵守當地法律。環保組織呼籲，國際社會應對剛果政府施壓，強化礦產監管、保護河川與原始森林，並保障當地居民的生計與人權。

Policy and Industry Context The DRC is rich in cobalt and gold, critical to renewable energy technologies and electronics manufacturing. Yet weak governance and corruption make it vulnerable to illegal mining. China’s extensive mining investments in Africa have frequently sparked environmental and human rights concerns, raising questions about the balance between global mineral supply security and ethical, sustainable practices.

政策與產業背景分析 剛果民主共和國擁有全球最大鈷礦和豐富金礦，是全球綠能與電子產業的關鍵供應地。然而，執法薄弱、貪腐嚴重使其成為非法採礦熱點。中國長期在非洲礦業投資，透過「一帶一路」擴大基建與資源掌控，但也伴隨環境爭議。此案突顯出在全球能源轉型與貴金屬需求攀升的背景下，如何兼顧供應鏈穩定與環境與人權保障，成為國際社會必須面對的挑戰。

This case underscores an urgent global challenge: ensuring responsible mineral sourcing as demand for critical metals and precious minerals surges during the clean energy transition, while safeguarding ecosystems and the rights of vulnerable local communities.