CRANSTON, RI – AIM announces its partnership with the Conflict-Free Tin Initiative, whose goal is to create regulated tin supply chains from the South-Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Initiative’s goal is to introduce a conflict-free supply chain that will renew the economy of the area since firms are reluctant to purchase any minerals from the region due to “conflict metal” regulations. The Initiative is supported by the US, Dutch and DCR governments along with 175 stakeholders representing various industries. The infrastructure has been put in place and the first purchase order from the secure mine site was placed in August. There is a traceability program that partners the supply chain together from the mine to the smelter that will ensure the legitimacy of the tin.

In a press release, AIM said it stands with such firms as Philips Electronics, Intel, HP and Motorola in a commitment to the success of this pilot program and welcomes companies such as component manufacturers and end-users to join them since the success depends on industry participation.

“AIM is proud to be part of a program that will bring economic relief and renewed hope to the people of the DRC,” said David Suraski, executive vice president, Assembly Materials Division. “It is the responsibility of every firm in our industry to obtain our raw materials from sustainable and socially just sources and this program is an important step in a global movement towards that.”

The CFTI was founded in November 2011, and two months later, Jaime de Bourbon Parme, his colleagues Marion van Schaik and Dirk Jan Vermeij of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with Richard Robinson of USAID and Pact visited mine sites in the Kivus. There they met with local government officials and citizens. Shortly thereafter, some governance committee members visited the selected mine site in South Kivu. Back in the Netherlands, discussions among government officials began in earnest, and in June formal contact with the central government of the DRC was made through a letter outlining the intentions and scope of the initiative.

Meanwhile, in the US, the SEC in August issued its final rule requiring companies to disclose their use of conflict metals. Later that month, the first conflict-free tin purchasing order was placed at Malaysia Smelting Corp. Berhad, one of the CFTI members.

To date, two solder companies have joined the CFTI: AIM and Alpha Metals.

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