Hyperledger Case Studies Circulor achieves first-ever-mine-to-manufacturer traceability of a conflict mineral with Hyperledger Fabric

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	Circulor achieves first-ever-mine-to-manufacturer traceability of a conflict mineral with Hyperledger Fabric Hyperledger

Circulor achieves first-ever-mine-to-manufacturer traceability of a conflict mineral with Hyperledger Fabric

Hyperledger

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Blockchain Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing
Applicable Industries	Electronics Mining
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Procurement
Use Cases	Regulatory Compliance Monitoring Supply Chain Visibility Track & Trace of Assets
Services	Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services System Integration
Challenge	Rwanda, the world's largest supplier of tantalum, a rare mineral used in devices like smartphones and laptops, faced a challenge in proving that every bag of tantalum ore was mined, transported, and processed under OECD-approved conditions, without any child or slave labor. The existing tracing methods involved tagging materials and filling in paper forms, which met the OECD rules but didn't provide actual traceability. It also generated a costly mountain of paper with room for errors or fraud. The challenge was to create a system that ensures tantalum is mined, transported, and processed under approved conditions with an unbroken chain of custody. Read More
About Customer	The customer in this case study is the African country of Rwanda, the world's biggest supplier of tantalum. Tantalum is a rare mineral used to make capacitors found in devices like smartphones and laptops. A small region of Africa produces 60% of the world's supply, with Rwanda as the main exporter. However, tantalum was sometimes smuggled in from conflict-ridden Congo, where it was mined by children or workers enslaved by warlords. This led to the OECD, U.S., and EU naming tantalum a 'conflict mineral' and passing regulations to improve its traceability. Despite these rules, no one had a foolproof way to prove where tantalum actually came from. Read More
Solution	UK-based Circulor created a system that ensures tantalum is mined, transported, and processed under approved conditions with an unbroken chain of custody. Powered by a permissioned blockchain built on Hyperledger Fabric, the system uses facial recognition and QR codes to deliver a world first: mine-to-manufacturer traceability of this vital resource. After mapping every step of the supply chain for tantalum from mine to manufacturer, Circulor introduced new online procedures that generate reliable data at each step of the global supply chain. The system databases are hosted in the cloud through a combination of Oracle Cloud and Amazon Web Services. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Blockchain

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing

Applicable Industries

Electronics

Mining

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Procurement

Use Cases

Regulatory Compliance Monitoring

Supply Chain Visibility

Track & Trace of Assets

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services

System Integration

Challenge

Rwanda, the world's largest supplier of tantalum, a rare mineral used in devices like smartphones and laptops, faced a challenge in proving that every bag of tantalum ore was mined, transported, and processed under OECD-approved conditions, without any child or slave labor. The existing tracing methods involved tagging materials and filling in paper forms, which met the OECD rules but didn't provide actual traceability. It also generated a costly mountain of paper with room for errors or fraud. The challenge was to create a system that ensures tantalum is mined, transported, and processed under approved conditions with an unbroken chain of custody.

About Customer

The customer in this case study is the African country of Rwanda, the world's biggest supplier of tantalum. Tantalum is a rare mineral used to make capacitors found in devices like smartphones and laptops. A small region of Africa produces 60% of the world's supply, with Rwanda as the main exporter. However, tantalum was sometimes smuggled in from conflict-ridden Congo, where it was mined by children or workers enslaved by warlords. This led to the OECD, U.S., and EU naming tantalum a 'conflict mineral' and passing regulations to improve its traceability. Despite these rules, no one had a foolproof way to prove where tantalum actually came from.

Solution

UK-based Circulor created a system that ensures tantalum is mined, transported, and processed under approved conditions with an unbroken chain of custody. Powered by a permissioned blockchain built on Hyperledger Fabric, the system uses facial recognition and QR codes to deliver a world first: mine-to-manufacturer traceability of this vital resource. After mapping every step of the supply chain for tantalum from mine to manufacturer, Circulor introduced new online procedures that generate reliable data at each step of the global supply chain. The system databases are hosted in the cloud through a combination of Oracle Cloud and Amazon Web Services.

Impact #1	The blockchain-based system to trace tantalum went live in three mines and an ore-sorting facility in Rwanda in fall 2018.
Impact #2	The system is designed to slash today's high cost for compliance, satisfy regulators, reassure consumers, and build revenues for Rwanda.
Impact #3	The system went live smoothly at three mines in Rwanda and a refinery in Macedonia run by Power Resources Group (PRG).

Impact #1

The blockchain-based system to trace tantalum went live in three mines and an ore-sorting facility in Rwanda in fall 2018.

Impact #2

The system is designed to slash today's high cost for compliance, satisfy regulators, reassure consumers, and build revenues for Rwanda.

Impact #3

The system went live smoothly at three mines in Rwanda and a refinery in Macedonia run by Power Resources Group (PRG).

Benefit #1	The system is expected to reduce the cost of compliance for Rwandan mines.
Benefit #2	The system is expected to boost the price for proven conflict-free ore, leading to more revenue for the Rwandan government, mine operators, and miners.

Benefit #1

The system is expected to reduce the cost of compliance for Rwandan mines.

Benefit #2

The system is expected to boost the price for proven conflict-free ore, leading to more revenue for the Rwandan government, mine operators, and miners.

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Overview

Circulor achieves first-ever-mine-to-manufacturer traceability of a conflict mineral with Hyperledger Fabric

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit