A large mining truck working in DR Congo’s open-pit mine, highlighting the country’s role in critical mineral supply chains.
In a significant move to secure critical mineral supply chains, a Washington-backed consortium has acquired a major stake in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mining sector. The Orion Critical Mineral Consortium will purchase 40% of Glencore’s copper and cobalt assets there, a deal valued at $9 billion. This transaction intensifies Washington’s strategic competition with China, which currently dominates global metals and mining. The deal coincides with a new bilateral agreement prioritizing US interests in Congo’s mineral supply chain and a critical-minerals summit in Washington with African leaders. The US strategy focuses on targeted investments in priority sectors rather than attempting to match Chinese spending dollar-for-dollar, aiming to ensure resilient access to resources essential for technology and clean energy.
Semafor