The biggest tech giants are linked to illegal gold mining
A revealing report from Brazil
Based on an investigation by reporters from Reporter Brasil, which was confirmed by Reuters , Brazilian police have formally accused the Italian gold processing company Chimet of buying gold worth millions of dollars from the Brazilian company CHM, which in turn acquired it by buying it. from illegal mining.
What has raised a storm of reactions is that Chimet is on the list of suppliers of the biggest technological giants, such as Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft.
Companies use small amounts of gold on electronic component boards since gold is an excellent conductor of electricity. CHM responded to the publication through its lawyer, stressing that all its gold has been acquired legally and with the proper documents.
Illegal resource extraction has soared in Brazil since 2019, with Prime Minister Jair Bolsonaro backing those who want to legalize mining on indigenous lands in the Amazon. Mining has destroyed vast areas of the Amazon forest, while at the same time polluting rivers with toxic mercury. The mining companies clash with the natives, threatening them, while many of them have been found dead. Brazil is estimated to have increased gold mining by half since Bolsonaro took office. Satellite photos show an area of forest the size of Belgium that has been destroyed and now has only muddy mining landscapes and makeshift airstrips.
A company that buys gold from Brazil knows that there is a huge risk in buying illegal blood-stained gold. – Larissa Rodrigues, journalist
The investigation shows that Chimet bought $385 million worth of gold from CHM between 2015 and 2020. Chimet emphasizes that it has no direct relationship with the tech companies, but sells the gold to banks who use it as they see fit.
Apple issued a statement, without directly naming Chimet, saying its policy prohibits the use of illegal minerals and that companies that do not comply will be removed from its supply chain. Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft declined to comment for the report.
The Brazilian police investigation is ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
