DRC Signs Five-Year AI Exploration Deal with Atlas Park to Modernise Mining Data
DRC Partners with Atlas Park on AI-Driven Geological Mapping to Boost Mineral Exploration
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has entered into a five-year partnership with US investment firm Atlas Park to deploy artificial intelligence in geological research and modernise the country’s mineral exploration framework.
The agreement, announced at the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, will see Atlas Park analyse decades of historical geological records and undertake new surveys across the country.
The processed data will be transferred to the national geological service in Kinshasa to support exploration planning, licensing decisions and investment promotion. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Atlas Park Chief Executive Officer Kai Han said the DRC offers unmatched exploration potential but requires a stronger data foundation to unlock value.
The initiative is designed to create a more structured and accessible geological database, enabling more efficient targeting of prospective mineral zones.
Strengthening Exploration in a Strategic Minerals Hub
The partnership reflects the DRC’s broader effort to attract foreign capital and advanced technologies as global demand intensifies for copper, cobalt and other critical minerals essential to clean energy systems, battery production and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The DRC holds some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt and substantial copper deposits, positioning it at the centre of the global energy transition supply chain. However, much of its geological data remains fragmented or outdated, limiting exploration efficiency and transparency.
Kinshasa has recently signed additional agreements with US and Japan-based firms focused on data digitisation and exploration services, part of a wider push to modernise regulatory systems and improve investor confidence in the mining sector.
Regional Debate on Resource Strategy
The agreement has sparked discussion among policymakers in neighbouring South Africa, where some leaders argue that African nations should strengthen intra-continental collaboration on mineral development rather than rely primarily on bilateral arrangements with external partners.
For the DRC, however, enhancing geological intelligence is seen as a prerequisite for maximising long-term resource value. By integrating AI-driven analysis into exploration workflows, the government aims to reduce geological uncertainty, accelerate discoveries and improve the strategic management of its vast mineral endowment.
