The Democratic Republic of Congo has presented a shortlist of strategic mineral assets to U.S. investors under a bilateral minerals partnership aimed at attracting American capital into its critical minerals sector. The offer includes projects linked to manganese, copper cobalt, lithium and gold and forms part of broader efforts to deepen economic cooperation between Kinshasa and Washington, according to Reuters.
The assets, drawn from state owned mining companies such as Gécamines, Cominiere, Kisenge, Sokimo and Sakima, are largely projects that are not already tied up in joint ventures. Among them are Gécamines’ Mutoshi copper cobalt operation, Cominiere’s lithium licences and Kisenge’s manganese holdings, as reported by Yahoo finance, which cited officials familiar with the discussions.
The move aligns with U.S. efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains and reduce dependence on China, which dominates the processing of several key battery metals. A joint steering committee involving officials from both countries has been set up to oversee implementation of the pact and guide investor engagement, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Analysts say the initiative signals Congo’s push to rebalance its mining partnerships and attract more Western investment into a sector long dominated by Chinese firms. Business Insider Africa reports that U.S. investors are expected to assess the commercial viability of the assets in the coming months as talks under the minerals pact advance.
