China Imports 2,000 Tons of Uranium from DR Congo Amid Health Risks

The image shows a representation of the CCP Virus (COVID-19 virus). (Pixabay)

[People News] The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is worsening, with both case and death tolls on the rise. The country's Ministry of Health announced on August 1 that as of July 31, there have been a total of 3,674 confirmed cases in this outbreak, resulting in 1,621 deaths.

The World Health Organization has classified the risk of the domestic outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as 'very high.' An announcement on the organization's official website on the 1st indicated that this outbreak has become the largest Ebola outbreak recorded in the country's history. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments available for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus that is circulating in this outbreak.

In addition to the Ebola situation, there are growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Recently, the positive rate of COVID-19 tests in China has also been on the rise, surpassing 20% for the first time. Many doctors are cautioning that 'COVID-19 is making a comeback.' On social media, numerous users have reported testing positive, leading to overcrowded hospitals. A doctor from Shandong disclosed that the emergency room is overwhelmed, with too many patients and no available beds, forcing some to lie on the floor.

On July 30, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published national surveillance data on acute respiratory infectious diseases, revealing that from July 20 to July 26, the COVID-19 positivity rate rose by 4 percentage points compared to the previous week, making it the highest among respiratory infectious disease testing rates. The predominant strain remains the NB.1.8.1 variant. The data indicates that in just three weeks, the COVID-19 positivity rate in outpatient and emergency departments has surged from 9.6% to 20.3%, effectively doubling since week 27. Due to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) tendency to conceal information, it is challenging for the international community to ascertain the true state of the epidemic.

The primary concern globally is the potential combination of the Ebola outbreak with the COVID-19 pandemic, which could inflict new damage worldwide. This concern arises from the frequent exchanges of personnel between China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) each year. If the Ebola virus were to be introduced into China, the risk of multiple epidemics would be significantly heightened.

According to official figures from the Chinese embassy, there are 5,000 Chinese nationals residing in the DRC. However, experts suggest that the actual number is much higher, estimated to be between 20,000 and 50,000, with the total number of trips made each year reaching several tens of thousands. These individuals primarily work in sectors such as mining, construction, and trade. Notably, in Katanga Province, 60 out of 75 mineral processing plants are owned by Chinese entrepreneurs. In recent years, the trade between China and the DRC involving resources like phosphates, cobalt, and uranium has been notably active, raising concerns among the international community.

On August 1, Radio France Internationale referenced an article from Le Monde, reporting that an investigation by the international academic journal Nature Communications estimated that between 2000 and 2024, the Chinese Communist Party imported around 2,000 tons of uranium from the Democratic Republic of the Congo without any oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). By 2025, China was importing approximately 95% of its cobalt products from the Congo.

The Congo is endowed with rich mineral resources, including cobalt and uranium. The cobalt products exported from the Congo contain high levels of uranium. Cobalt is a crucial raw material for manufacturing lithium batteries used in new energy vehicles. During the cobalt refining process, phosphoric acid is employed to extract uranium from cobalt products. Consequently, a substantial amount of uranium likely entered the People's Republic of China alongside cobalt.

An estimate published by Chinese researchers in 2025 revealed that in 2022, nuclear power plants in the People's Republic of China consumed about 10,000 tons of uranium in a single year. However, domestic uranium production can only satisfy less than 20% of this demand. Beyond civilian nuclear power, the People's Republic of China also requires uranium to support its nuclear weapons development. One of the major constraints facing China's nuclear weapons program is the ability to maintain a stable supply of uranium. If all 2,000 tons of uranium were allocated for nuclear weapons production, it would be sufficient to create approximately 600 nuclear warheads.

The Chinese Communist Party's approach to developing advanced military weapons raises concerns about the potential for imported scarce minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly cobalt and uranium, to carry viral pathogens. Additionally, the People's Republic of China has entered into significant agreements with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which stipulate annual investments and technical support, thereby heightening the risk of disease transmission. For example, in 2012, Chinese investors and the China Export-Import Bank proposed a $6 billion infrastructure project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, backed by loans secured against mineral rights. These state-owned enterprises brought Chinese workers to the region, leading to criticism of Chinese employers for employing child labor and failing to meet health and safety standards. Experts warn that if the People's Republic of China were to encounter an Ebola outbreak, it would further complicate the already dire health crisis caused by COVID-19 and pose additional risks to global health. △