KoBold Metals signs exploration deal with Congo, boosting U.S. access to key minerals and countering China’s supply chain dominance.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has entered into a preliminary mineral exploration agreement with U.S.-based KoBold Metals, strengthening American engagement in Africa’s critical minerals sector. The move marks a significant step in Washington’s efforts to secure essential raw materials for the global energy transition, while simultaneously challenging China’s dominant role in the global supply chain.
KoBold Metals, a technology-driven mineral exploration company supported by high-profile investors such as Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has agreed “in principle” to seek exploration permits in Congo. As part of the agreement, the company will also assist in digitizing the country’s geological data, as confirmed by an official announcement from the office of President Félix Tshisekedi. The agreement was signed in Kinshasa and represents a broader strategic initiative by the U.S. to ensure reliable access to vital minerals like cobalt, copper, and lithium.
Congo plays a central role in the global supply of key minerals. It is the world's largest producer of cobalt, a crucial component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and is also a major source of copper. Additionally, the country possesses significant reserves of lithium, tin, and tungsten — all essential for clean energy technologies.
KoBold intends to use its proprietary artificial intelligence tools to identify promising mineral deposits. The company plans to initiate a lithium-focused exploration project in the mining town of Manono, located in the southeastern Tanganyika province. As part of its commitment, KoBold will invest in digital geological mapping, recruit and train local workers, and contribute to infrastructure development in communities hosting its operations.
This latest agreement aligns with KoBold’s previously announced $1 billion framework to acquire a stake in the Manono lithium deposit from Australia’s AVZ Minerals. That deal, backed by the U.S. government, underscores Washington’s interest in reducing American reliance on Chinese-controlled supply chains for minerals essential to EVs, renewable energy, and defense technologies.
However, the final realization of KoBold’s ambitions in Congo will depend on resolving ongoing legal disputes related to mining rights in Manono and obtaining the necessary permits for exploration and development. Despite these uncertainties, the agreement demonstrates Congo’s openness to attracting high-profile international investors and leveraging technological innovation in its mining sector.
For the U.S., the partnership provides a critical opportunity to secure access to future supplies of strategic minerals, while promoting transparency and sustainable development in resource-rich nations like Congo. With global demand for energy transition minerals surging, this collaboration could reshape mineral sourcing strategies and lessen the geopolitical risks of overdependence on a single country.
