“We are pleased to join iTSCi and this collaborative effort to eliminate minerals from conflict sources from the supply chain, while also ensuring that conflict-free material from mines in the DRC has a pathway to market,” said Steve Krause, GAM president. “GAM has long been committed to providing our customers and end-users with conflict free and sustainable material, and we look forward to this partnership with iTSCi that will allow us to go beyond compliance standards to strengthen assurances for our customers.”
iTSCi helps upstream companies institute the actions, structures, and processes necessary to conform with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance. This ultimately helps conflict-free supply chain participants get their products to market.
“We are pleased to welcome GAM as a member of iTSCi as we work toward progressive improvement in conflict mineral sectors, as well as long-term sustainable production and economic development,” said Kay Nimmo of the iTSCi Governance Committee. “GAM has been a leader in the production of conflict-free tantalum, and we look forward to their important contributions to our membership of companies.”
Conflict minerals involve the mining and trading of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold that have been associated with the financing of armed conflict and violence in the DRC and adjoining countries. These valuable minerals are in some cases smuggled out of the DRC through neighboring countries and can make their way to the US and all over the world in various consumer, commercial and industrial products.