US-based minerals exploration start-up KoBold Metals has been granted seven exploration permits in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The permits cover lithium and other strategic minerals across the southeastern Manono and Malemba Nkulu regions.
The permits, listed under KoBold Exploration DRC, are all 100pc owned by KoBold and span substances such as lithium, coltan, rare earths, tin and gold.
It marks a significant expansion of KoBold's footprint in the DRC and appears to deepen its involvement in Manono, one of the world's largest undeveloped lithium deposits.
It is estimated to hold 400mn-669mn t of lithium ore, which at 1pc lithium concentration and 8kg of lithium per battery, could theoretically support production for between 500mn and 1bn electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
US scramble for critical minerals
KoBold signed a non-binding agreement in May to acquire AVZ's stake in Manono, marking the first major US investment in the DRC since 2016. That deal was framed as a strategic play to counter Chinese influence and secure critical minerals for western markets.
AVZ announced in July a legal victory at the International Chamber of Commerce, confirming its acquisition of a 10pc stake in Dathcom, the entity that holds Manono licence PR13359. AVZ claims it legally holds at least 70pc of Dathcom and is pursuing arbitration to confirm an additional 5pc.
The company has also challenged the validity of another permit, PR15775, granted to Zijin Mining's joint venture, arguing that it overlaps with AVZ's rights.
KoBold's new permits add complexity to an already tangled ownership saga. The lack of official confirmation from Kinshasa, KoBold or AVZ about the exact boundaries of the new permits — and whether they intersect with PR13359 — leaves room for dispute.
The situation underscores broader concerns about transparency and governance in the DRC's mining sector, where overlapping claims and opaque negotiations have become common, as well as growing geopolitical stakes as western supply chains scramble to diversify away from Chinese-owned production.
