" ... A key issue is the continuing supply of low-cost columbite-tantalite (coltan) mined in Central Africa, mostly illegally, and sold to fund rebel militias. The major processors will not knowingly buy such material and almost all of it goes to China. (...) Within the space of a few months, close to 40% of global primary tantalum capacity was taken out of the market. There are no guarantees as to when, or even if, it will be brought back into production. The market will remain well-supplied for the time being. ... " Summary of a larger (and absurdly expensive) report about the Tantalum industry. Puts the recent campaigns aimed at shaming electronics manufacturers in a different perspective.