The Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing to present the United States with a prioritized catalogue of key mining projects for potential American investment, marking a significant step in their growing strategic minerals’ partnership.

This development follows an agreement signed in early December between Kinshasa and Washington aimed at boosting U.S. access to the DRC’s abundant reserves of critical minerals such as cobalt, copper, lithium, and tantalum. These resources are vital for technology and clean energy sectors, and the partnership reflects Washington’s efforts to reduce reliance on China’s dominance in the global mining industry.

Under the terms of the deal, the DRC is tasked with compiling and submitting an initial list within 30 days, detailing priority mineral and gold assets as well as unlicensed exploration zones. This list will be managed by a newly established Joint Steering Committee, representing both countries, which will oversee the Strategic Asset Reserve—a dynamic portfolio of mineral resources and potential exploration sites.

Eligible investors, primarily American firms, will have the opportunity to submit proposals to explore, develop, and extract minerals within the reserve. The reserve itself is designed to evolve over time, with both the DRC and U.S. able to propose additional assets for inclusion, ensuring ongoing collaboration and flexibility.

Importantly, projects included in this reserve will not face extra fees or administrative hurdles beyond standard Congolese legal requirements, provided they comply with existing domestic laws and international agreements between the two nations.

This partnership signals a new chapter in U.S.-Congo relations and highlights the strategic importance of the DRC’s mineral wealth in the global supply chain, especially as the world shifts towards green technologies.

Reporting by Ehud Jones.