DRC offers state mineral assets to US investors under pact

The Democratic Republic of Congo has provided U.S. officials with a shortlist of state-owned mineral assets for potential American investment, a move intended to advance a bilateral minerals partnership and attract funding into projects covering manganese, copper-cobalt, gold and lithium.

According to Reuters, two senior Congolese officials said the list was delivered to Washington last week after multiple rounds of internal review. No valuation was disclosed for the assets included, and both the Congolese government and the U.S. State Department had no immediate public comment when contacted.

The initiative comes as the United States intensifies efforts to secure supplies of critical minerals and reduce dependence on China across key parts of the global processing and refining chain. Analysts and industry researchers, citing International Energy Agency assessments, have noted China’s dominant role in refining for several strategic minerals.

The Congolese officials said Kinshasa intends to present assets held by state companies that are not already tied up in farm-out arrangements or joint ventures. One official said the consolidated shortlist has also been submitted to a Joint Steering Committee made up of representatives from Congo and the United States, established to oversee implementation of the minerals partnership and coordinate next steps.

They said the committee is expected to convene an initial meeting to begin implementing the framework and start negotiations on partnership contracts for specific assets.

The shortlist cited by the officials includes:

• Kisenge licences for manganese, gold and cassiterite;

• Gécamines interests linked to the Mutoshi copper-cobalt project and a germanium-processing venture;

• Sokimo gold permits;

• Cominière lithium licences; and

• Sakima assets involving coltan, gold and wolframite.

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One of the officials said the process is being carried out in line with Congolese law.

U.S. engagement with Congo’s minerals sector has also been linked to broader infrastructure and investment initiatives in the region, including support for transport routes designed to move minerals more efficiently to export hubs. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation has previously announced a commitment of up to $553 million toward upgrades along the Lobito Corridor rail route.

Source: Reuters