KoBold Metals, a mineral exploration company backed by US billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, has recently obtained seven new licenses from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government. The permits allow the company to explore for critical minerals such as lithium, manganese, tin, and tantalum near the Manono lithium project in the southeastern part of the country.
The company signed an exploration agreement with the Congolese government just weeks ago, aiming to attract American investment into the local mining sector. KoBold must first resolve a dispute with Australia’s AVZ Minerals over mining rights at Manono before deploying AI-driven exploration technology and supporting community infrastructure development. The move aligns with the US strategy to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals.