Burundi has signed an agreement with U.S. mining technology firm KoBold Metals, a company backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, to explore the country’s mineral resources using artificial intelligence-driven technology, as reported by Reuters.
The partnership will deploy advanced data analytics and machine-learning tools to identify potential deposits of critical minerals used in the global clean-energy transition, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. KoBold is known for applying AI models to geological data in order to accelerate the discovery of untapped mineral reserves and reduce the cost and time required for exploration.
Business Insider Africa says the agreement could help Burundi unlock the economic potential of its largely underexplored mining sector while attracting foreign investment and modern technology. The project also aligns with the country’s broader strategy to position itself within the rapidly expanding global supply chain for battery metals essential to electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.
KoBold Metals, founded in 2018 and supported by investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, has expanded exploration activities across several mineral-rich regions worldwide, particularly in Africa where demand for critical minerals is rising amid the global shift toward clean energy systems.
