Ford Motor Co. has announced its partnership with IBM to use its blockchain-based platform for tracking cobalt mining and outsourcing in Congo.

The company has also aligned with LG Chem Ltd., a South Korea-based cathode maker, RCS Global Group and China-based Huayou Cobalt to form an efficient supply chain system where each transaction will be recorded in an immutable way for tracking cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The project is built on IBM Blockchain platform and Linux Foundation’s Hyperledger Fabric. The main intent of the collaboration is to create an open, industry-wide network for tracking and validating minerals used by the automotive and electronics industry.

Manish Chawla, general manager of the global industrial products of IBM, has stated that the collaboration aims to implement blockchain for better supply chain sustainability in the mining industry.