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Tungsten Mined By Terrorists Is Used In Luxury Cars
Tungsten, which is a heavy metal, is best recognized by many as the metal wire that glows inside a light bulb. Thought tungsten filament bulbs are now outdated, the heat resistant and extremely hard metal itself is in demand more than ever before. That's because its usefulness extends far and wide, ranging from consumer electronics to LCD displays to automobiles.
The problem, this time, is not concerned with over mining or an environmental issue, but is instead related to terrorism. A Bloomberg exclusive report has revealed that some of the tungsten which are used by industries come from mining areas that are controlled by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ( FARC), a left wing organization which is categorized as a terrorist group. The tungsten mined by FARC is used by them to finance their war against the Colombian government.
Tungsten alloy is used as a counterweight in performance engine crankshafts to improve their performance and increase their stability. Engines which are used by companies including, Volkswagen, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche among others. The metal also goes into manufacture of LCD displays of all sorts and as insulation in electronic circuitry. It even helps a smartphone vibrate.
While the tungsten mined by FARC constitutes only a small percentage of the global tungsten production, it still significant enough to provide financial support to the banned revolutionary group. While the carmakers maintain that they source tungsten from credible sources, the fact remains that the FARC mined metal makes its way into global tungsten supply and into the cars. The Colombian government is trying to resolve the problem, but is faced with several challenges. For an in-depth report of the matter, you can read the complete Bloomberg story.
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