The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) provides rich sources of uranium in its southern province of Katanga. Since the 1920ies uranium has been mined and exported, in the beginning under the rule of Belgian colonial administration. Despite the known impact of extraction on the health of workers, local communities and the environment, the Congolese government has tolerated the illegal exploitation and exports since the 1960s and seems to be involved in the profits of this business. In 2010 the government of the DRC has signed a contract for the legal and industrial exploitation of the Katanga uranium rexources with the French energy company Areva. The details of this contract remain secret, but reportedly Areva has bought the right to unlimited export of the Congolese uranium reserves.