Nicolas Niarchos
March 16, 2026
That lithium-ion battery that helps run your phone, laptop, or electric car is only possible because of rare minerals mined in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo. The conditions in these mines and surrounding towns are deplorable, horrific. It’s the dirty secret that no one wants to talk about. Tonight on Inquiry we talk with NICOLAS NIARCHOS a journalist whose work focuses on energy, war, and migration. His new book, based on years of on-the-ground reporting, is THE ELEMENTS OF POWER: A STORY OF WAR, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE DIRTIEST SUPPLY CHAIN ON EARTH.
