U.S. Consortium Eyes Strategic Acquisition of Chemaf Amid Critical Mineral Race in DRC 1 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt Copper Corporate News Mergers & Acquisitions 

U.S. Consortium Eyes Strategic Acquisition of Chemaf Amid Critical Mineral Race in DRC

U.S. Firms Orion and Virtus in Talks to Acquire Congo’s Chemaf Resources as Global Cobalt Race Heats Up A U.S.-based consortium, including former special forces and intelligence veterans, is in advanced talks to acquire Chemaf Resources Ltd., a copper and cobalt producer at the heart of intensifying U.S.-China competition over critical minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to sources familiar with the matter, Orion Resource Partners and Virtus Minerals are jointly negotiating the acquisition of Chemaf, which is currently backed by global commodity trader Trafigura Group. While… Read More Here
Zimbabwe’s Kuvimba to Construct $270M Lithium Concentrator with Chinese Partners in 2025 2 International Battery Metals Corporate News Lithium 

Zimbabwe’s Kuvimba to Construct $270M Lithium Concentrator with Chinese Partners in 2025

Kuvimba to Build $270M Lithium Plant at Sandawana Mine in 2025 Zimbabwe’s state-owned Kuvimba Mining House will begin construction of a $270 million lithium concentrator at its Sandawana mine in the third quarter of 2025, with commissioning expected in early 2027, according to CEO Trevor Barnard. The facility is designed to process 600,000 metric tons of lithium ore per year and will be developed in partnership with two major Chinese metals companies. Under the agreement, the Chinese firms will build and operate the plant for a minimum of five years,… Read More Here
Kobold Metals to Invest in AI-Powered Exploration Under New Deal with DRC 3 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Exploration Lithium New Mining Projects 

Kobold Metals to Invest in AI-Powered Exploration Under New Deal with DRC

DR Congo Signs Strategic Mining Deal with U.S. based Company Kobold Metals to Boost Lithium Exploration and AI-Driven Geological Mapping On Thursday, at the African Union City in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi presided over the signing of a major agreement between the Congolese government and U.S.-based company Kobold Metals. The agreement marks a significant step toward American investment in the country’s mining sector. The document was signed by Congolese Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, and Benjamin Katabuka, the Managing Director of Kobold Metals in… Read More Here
India Seeks Copper and Critical Minerals from Chile and Peru Amid Push to Cut China Reliance 4 International Battery Metals Copper 

India Seeks Copper and Critical Minerals from Chile and Peru Amid Push to Cut China Reliance

India in Talks with Chile and Peru for Copper and Critical Minerals to Curb China Dependence India is in advanced discussions with Chile and Peru to secure critical mineral supplies, including copper, as part of ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The talks aim to ensure a stable supply of key resources for India’s growing industrial needs, particularly copper concentrate. A government document released earlier this month confirmed that copper will be included as a dedicated chapter in… Read More Here
Dr. Sandrine Mubenga's Groundbreaking Patent Puts the DRC on the Global Tech Map 5 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Technology & Innovation 

Dr. Sandrine Mubenga’s Groundbreaking Patent Puts the DRC on the Global Tech Map

DRC’s Dr. Sandrine Mubenga Unveils Revolutionary Battery Patent Recognized by the U.S. Patent Office On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) officially published a groundbreaking patent filed by Dr. Sandrine Ngalula Mubenga, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Toledo (USA) and Director General of the Electricity Regulatory Agency (ARE) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “This marks a major milestone,” Dr. Mubenga stated. “The USPTO has officially published my patent. The tools and software I’ve developed will revolutionize the battery… Read More Here
CMOC Delivers Strong Cobalt Growth Amid Congo Export Crackdown 6 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

CMOC Delivers Strong Cobalt Growth Amid Congo Export Crackdown

CMOC Increases Cobalt Output in Congo Amid Export Ban, Projects $1.1B Profit Surge China’s CMOC Group, the world’s largest cobalt producer, reported a strong rise in output from its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), defying an ongoing export ban imposed by the Congolese government. In a preliminary earnings statement released Monday, CMOC announced a 13% year-on-year increase in cobalt production, reaching 61,073 tons in the first half of 2025. This growth occurred despite DRC’s export suspension, which was initially enacted in February and extended through September. Congo,… Read More Here
India Targets Critical Minerals in Zambia Amid Global Supply Concerns 7 Mining in Zambia Battery Metals Cobalt Copper New Mining Projects 

India Targets Critical Minerals in Zambia Amid Global Supply Concerns

India has deployed a team of geologists to Zambia to explore deposits of copper and cobalt, two minerals critical to its clean energy transition, according to two Indian government sources. The Zambian government has allocated 9,000 square kilometers (approximately 3,475 square miles) to India for this exploration initiative. The focus will be on cobalt—a vital component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones—and copper, which is widely used in power generation, electronics, and construction. The exploration project is expected to span three years, with most of the sample analysis… Read More Here
DRC Secures Strategic Stake in Nation’s First Copper-Cobalt Refinery Project 8 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

DRC Secures Strategic Stake in Nation’s First Copper-Cobalt Refinery Project

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has acquired a 10% stake in Buenassa Resources SA, the company spearheading the development of the country’s first copper and cobalt refinery. The agreement was formalized on June 25 through a memorandum of understanding signed by Jean-Lucien Bussa, Minister of State Portfolio, and Eddy Kioni, CEO of Buenassa Resources. Though a minority stake, the 10% is classified as a “golden share,” granting the Congolese government veto power over strategic decisions that impact national interests. These include issues related to employment, taxation, environmental standards, local… Read More Here
Japan-DRC Partnership Launches Major Manganese Project in Kongo Central 9 Mining in DRC Battery Metals New Mining Projects 

Japan-DRC Partnership Launches Major Manganese Project in Kongo Central

Japanese firm Asia Mineral Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Congolese company Kerith Resources to begin manganese mining operations in the Luozi region of Kongo Central province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The signing ceremony took place in Osaka, Japan, in the presence of DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka during the DRC-Japan Economic Forum, held alongside the 2025 World Expo. The mining project targets an annual output of at least 2 million tonnes of manganese, a critical mineral used in steel production and electric battery manufacturing.… Read More Here
AVZ Minerals Resumes Arbitration Against DRC Over Manono Lithium Permit 10 Lithium Battery Metals Corporate News Mining in DRC 

AVZ Minerals Resumes Arbitration Against DRC Over Manono Lithium Permit

AVZ Minerals Limited (AVZ or the Company) has confirmed the resumption of arbitration proceedings before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The proceedings were initiated by the Company’s subsidiaries—AVZ International Pty Ltd (AVZI), Green Lithium Holdings Pte Ltd (GLH), and Dathcom Mining SA (Dathcom)—against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The dispute centers on the DRC’s failure to grant a mining exploitation permit (Permis d’Exploitation or PE) to Dathcom for the area covered under Permit PR 13359 (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/20). As previously announced on 26 May… Read More Here

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