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KoBold Metals, the mineral explorer backed by U.S. billionaires, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates, has secured seven new permits to search for lithium and other critical minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The licences were issued following an exploration pact with the Congolese government, part of a wider effort to attract American investment into the country’s mining sector, according to a report by Mining.com on Thursday.
KoBold, whose shareholders also include BHP Group, Andreesen Horowitz and Equinor ASA, is already exploring Zambia’s Mingomba Mine, which is projected to become one of Africa’s largest copper and cobalt operations.
The DRC is the world’s top producer of cobalt, the second-largest source of copper, and holds significant reserves of lithium and tantalum.
The newly awarded permits are located in southeastern Congo near the Manono lithium project, which KoBold hopes to transform into a major mine. The rights allow exploration for lithium, manganese, tin, and tantalum.
Read more: kobold-reportedly-raises-537-million-for-its-copper-cobalt-exploration-projects
However, KoBold has notified authorities in Kinshasa that it must first address a dispute with Australia’s AVZ Minerals Limited, which is contesting Congo’s termination of its rights to Manono. AVZ has launched arbitration proceedings and is seeking either a settlement or buyout.
KoBold said it intends to deploy its AI-driven exploration technology in Manono, with plans to fund digital geological mapping, hire local staff, and support infrastructure development in host communities.
The company’s expansion in Congo aligns with Washington’s push to reduce dependence on China for critical minerals essential to clean energy and electric vehicle supply chains.
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