Interesting how this is worded!?!
KoBold Moves on DRC Manono Lithium
Metal Tech News - May 19, 2025
K. Warner, Metal Tech News | Last updated May 19, 2025 11:34am
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Investing over $1 billion to unlock one of the world's richest hard rock lithium deposits in the DRC.
With backing from Silicon Valley heavyweights, KoBold Metals Inc. is investing over $1 billion to acquire AVZ Minerals' stake in the Manono project and unlock one of the world's richest hard rock lithium deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – a move that could reshape global EV supply chains and challenge China's outsized grip on battery materials.
Founded in California and backed by world-renowned investors such as Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, KoBold Metals has quickly emerged as a major player in next-generation mineral exploration – using artificial intelligence to pinpoint critical deposits overlooked by traditional methods.
Its preliminary agreement to acquire Australian firm AVZ Minerals' share of the Manono lithium project places the company at the center of one of the largest undeveloped hard rock lithium deposits on the planet – located in the resource-rich southeastern region of the DRC.
While KoBold operates more than 60 active projects across four continents, its African focus has centered on Zambia, where in 2023 it announced the country's largest copper discovery in a century.
The Manono deal marks a strategic expansion of that presence – and signals a larger bet on Africa's pivotal role in reshaping global battery and EV supply chains.
Strategic importance
Amid the global shift away from fossil fuels, lithium has become indispensable to electric vehicles, grid-scale battery systems, and portable electronics – placing it at the center of a rapidly intensifying supply race.
With Western nations expanding renewable infrastructure and accelerating EV production, the urgency to secure new sources has never been greater.
Positioned to meet part of that demand, the Manono deposit offers scale but not simplicity. Complex geology and a long history of under-exploration have made the region difficult to assess using traditional techniques.
To overcome those barriers, KoBold will apply a data-driven approach that merges satellite imagery, geochemical sampling, and geophysical surveys into a single AI-powered platform.
Through machine learning, the system identifies patterns and anomalies often missed by conventional exploration – reducing the need for costly drilling, shortening timelines, and improving the likelihood of a commercially viable discovery.
A play for supply diversity
Reflecting both the scale of the Manono deposit and the urgency of diversifying lithium supply, KoBold's $1 billion investment signals more than just a business decision – it is a strategic play to anchor the U.S. in Africa's underutilized mineral wealth.
Aligned with Washington's broader push to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains, the move supports efforts to secure reliable sources of lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. As part of that effort, the U.S. State Department has stepped up its diplomatic presence in Africa, including a recent high-level visit to the DRC aimed at laying the groundwork for cooperative mineral agreements.
With growing political momentum behind resource partnerships in the region, KoBold's deal may benefit from alignment with U.S. policy goals – contributing to a strategic mineral corridor that counters China's longstanding dominance.
Securing minerals through peace
While the Manono project presents a rare strategic opportunity, its development remains entangled in the Democratic Republic of Congo's ongoing instability.
In the eastern provinces, fighting between rebel militias, government forces, and foreign-backed groups has intensified since January 2025, leaving an estimated 3,000 people dead and complicating efforts to establish lasting security.
Within this volatile landscape, the country's mining industry has long been marked by exploitation and risk. Artisanal miners, including women and children, often work in dangerous conditions for little pay –raising urgent concerns about labor ethics and environmental sustainability.
KoBold Metals' approach signals an intent to establish a more transparent and responsible supply chain, aligned with broader Western expectations for ethical sourcing.
To secure access while supporting stability, Washington may lean on diplomatic and economic tools. The White House is reportedly considering peace-brokering efforts in exchange for resource access – similar to the
minerals-for-aid framework employed in recent negotiations with Ukraine.
Infrastructure initiatives such as the Lobito Corridor railway, backed by U.S. and EU funding, are also being advanced as stabilizing economic incentives in the region.
For KoBold and other stakeholders, success at Manono will depend not only on geology and capital, but on diplomacy, regional stability, and the ability to align mineral extraction with long-term peacebuilding goals.
