The Democratic Republic of the Congo is set to provide the United States with a comprehensive list of 47 mining projects focused on critical minerals, including copper and cobalt, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties and secure supply chains. The move marks a key step in advancing a long-discussed minerals cooperation agreement.
- DRC to share a list of 47 active and planned mining projects with the U.S.
- Katanga Province hosts the majority of projects, including major copper and cobalt developments.
- Projects include nine with investment forecasts exceeding $500 million.
- U.S. government agencies are coordinating with Congolese officials to enhance supply chain security.
- Projected FDI from transparency efforts could reach $2.3 billion over five years.
- Environmental and governance standards are being integrated into new project assessments.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has formally committed to sharing a detailed inventory of 47 active and planned mining projects with U.S. officials, according to government sources. The list includes large-scale copper and cobalt developments in Katanga Province, where the DRC accounts for over 70% of global cobalt production and ranks second worldwide in copper output. The data will be transmitted via a secure bilateral platform established in late 2025 to facilitate transparency and investment coordination. This initiative reflects the DRC’s growing strategic role in supplying raw materials essential for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy infrastructure, and defense technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency have jointly identified the DRC as a high-priority partner under the Critical Materials Resilience Initiative. The project list includes nine projects with projected investments exceeding $500 million each, such as the Kambove Copper Expansion and the Mutanda North Cobalt Extension. The DRC’s decision follows months of technical discussions between Congolese Ministry of Mines officials and U.S. Embassy representatives in Kinshasa. The move is expected to boost confidence among American investors, particularly in firms like Freeport-McMoRan and Glencore, which already operate in the region. Early analysis suggests the transparency could unlock up to $2.3 billion in projected foreign direct investment over the next five years. Market analysts note that the initiative may also influence global commodity pricing dynamics. With the DRC producing 60% of the world’s cobalt and 12% of its copper, greater clarity on project timelines, ownership, and capacity can reduce supply chain volatility. The U.S. Treasury and the DRC’s Ministry of Finance are now advancing a joint risk assessment framework to ensure projects meet environmental, social, and governance standards.