Raw materials or minerals that are mined from specific areas of the world, in which conflict is taking place, are referred to as conflict minerals. Specifically, these natural resources are mined, traded and/or sold in an effort to perpetuate war and violence in these areas of the world, also known as conflict zones. The four most prominent conflict minerals, as defined by the U.S. Conflict Minerals Law are: gold, wolframite (a source of tungsten), columbite-tantalum (metal ore from which tantalum is extracted), and cassiterite (ore used to produce tin). These four prominent metals are sometimes referred to as “3TG” or the “3T’s” and are all mined in the eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Howard Precision Metals offers an extensive inventory of aluminum plate, aluminum sheet, and extruded aluminum shapes and is committed to avoiding the use of conflict minerals in any of the aluminum alloys supplied.
Funding Source for the Warlords
The 3TG minerals are a significant source of capital for warlords who have been operating in and spreading violence throughout the DRC region for many years. Conflict minerals mined in this region can potentially move through a number of different locations in various neighboring countries as they are conveyed to processing centers, including Sudan, Central Africa Republic, Congo Republic, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Zambia, and Tanzania, before entering the supply chain. There is a potential for this to occur either with or without the knowledge of relevant parties through the mining or trading stage either in the DRC or another country along the supply chain. Supply chain partners in original equipment manufacturers cooperate to ensure vehicle production on a worldwide basis does not financially support the warlords or fuel the bloodshed in the DRC. Supply chain partners and original equipment manufacturers cooperate to ensure vehicle production on a worldwide basis does not financially support the warlords or fuel the bloodshed in the DRC.
U.S. Requires Reporting on the Use of Conflict Minerals
In 2010, federal law was passed that mandates U.S. listed companies to find out if their products contain at least one of four different minerals – tungsten, tin, tantalum, and gold – derived from Congo or one of nine surrounding countries.
The conflict materials provision, which is section 1502 of the U.S. Dodd Frank Act, attempts to sever the connections between violent and abusive armed groups and the lucrative minerals trade in eastern Congo. Under the provision, U.S. listed companies who are aware that they source minerals from the region are required to form checks, referred to as due diligence, on their supply chains in order to determine whether the purchases they have made of the areas minerals have financially benefited these armed groups. These companies are subsequently required to deliver a public report to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) the U.S. regulator, on the steps they have conducted.
Howard Precision Metals is committed to completely avoid conflict minerals in all manufacturing processes. As the premier aluminum supplier and precision aluminum sawing source in the Midwest, the team at Howard Precision Metals has the know-how, resources, and experience to provide customers with the cast aluminum tool and jig plate, aluminum plate, and aluminum extrusion stock required for any project. With customers in various industry sectors including machinery manufacturing, aerospace, robotic automation, building construction, pneumatics, hydraulics, and medical, Howard Precision Metals is still “A Cut Above the Rest”.
For more information about how Howard Precision Metals can serve your specific aluminum requirements, call them today at 800.444.0311 or use the quote request form on HPM’s website.
