Keypoints:
- DRC sends shortlist of strategic mineral assets to US investors under new pact
- Assets include lithium, copper-cobalt, manganese, gold and coltan licences
- Joint committee to meet and negotiate investment contracts
THE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has formally offered Washington a curated list of state-owned mineral assets — including lithium, copper-cobalt and manganese licences — as part of a burgeoning critical minerals partnership aimed at bolstering US access to strategic.
The package marks the most tangible step yet in converting diplomatic and investment talks into potential American capital deployment in the heart of Africa’s mineral belt, sources said. It comes amid US efforts to broaden supply routes for crucial metals amid competition with China, which currently dominates global refining of battery and strategic minerals.
Shortlist blends battery metals with investment appeal
Two senior Congolese officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the list sent to US officials last week comprises licences and projects held by state enterprises that are not already tied up in existing joint ventures or farm-outs.
The assets on offer include:
- Cominiere’s lithium licences — vital for EV batteries and energy storage.
- Gécamines’ Mutoshi copper-cobalt project — at the centre of global cobalt supply.
- Manganese, gold and cassiterite licences at Kisenge — broadening the metals basket.
- Sokimo’s gold permits and Sakima’s coltan, gold and wolframite holdings.
The officials stressed all proposed offers comply with Congolese mining legislation and represent a subset of assets that can be negotiated with American investors.
What this means
Kinshasa’s outreach underscores a pragmatic shift towards diversifying foreign investment in its mineral sector, particularly with US firms, as part of broader efforts by Washington to secure reliable supplies of battery and strategic metals crucial for electric vehicles, defence equipment and clean energy technologies.
US strategy targets supply chain diversification
Officials noted that the move aligns with US aims to reduce reliance on China, which handles a disproportionate share of refining for copper, lithium and cobalt — processing between 47 percent and 87 percent of key strategic minerals globally, according to the International Energy Agency.
In recent months, US action in the region has included a minerals marketing partnership between the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Gécamines as well as backing a $553 million upgrade of the Lobito Corridor, a transport and logistics route linking the DRC and Angola to global markets.
Joint Steering Committee to drive deals
To manage implementation of the pact, a Joint Steering Committee comprising Congolese and US representatives has been established. According to a document seen by Reuters, Kinshasa’s delegation features senior ministers overseeing economy, foreign affairs, mines and finance, plus the head of the national minerals regulator.
The committee’s next steps will include organising its first meeting and initiating contract negotiations with interested US investors. Neither the Congolese government nor the US Department of State had immediately responded to requests for comment.
Geopolitical and market implications
The DRC is the world’s dominant producer of cobalt and a significant source of lithium and copper — metals central to the global energy transition. By tendering assets to US interests, Kinshasa is signalling a drive to rebalance its external partnerships and attract investment that could underpin both extraction and downstream processing.
Industry analysts say such offers may enhance US footholds in a sector long shaped by Chinese capital and state-owned firms. However, they also caution that negotiating with multiple stakeholders — from local communities to multinational corporations — and navigating regulatory approvals will be critical to securing long-term, commercially viable deals.
As the strategic minerals race intensifies, Washington’s engagement with the DRC will be watched closely by markets and policymakers alike.
