Coltan is one of those minerals that nobody knows, yet everybody needs.
When processed, it creates tantalum – the metallic element vital for capacitors found in all sorts of advanced computing equipment.
Anything from large data centers to household gadgets relies on a steady supply of this obscure metal.
Yet, its supply chain is anything but transparent.
A year-long investigation by the non-governmental organization Global Witness now alleges that the systems designed to ensure ethical sourcing have broken down.
