EU Nurtures Partnerships with DRC and Zambia to Secure Critical Materials
The European Union (EU) is working on partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to strengthen local industries in the face of growing competition with China for essential resources in the green and digital sectors.
A forthcoming memorandum of understanding will signify the EU’s support for cultivating local value chains, especially since a significant portion of critical material processing, such as lithium and cobalt, currently occurs in China.
The EU’s objective is to diversify the suppliers of crucial resources and counter China’s substantial infrastructure investments in regions like Africa.
Similar agreements have been established with Canada, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Ukraine, Argentina, and Chile, with Rwanda and Uganda also under consideration.
The EU intends to finalize these partnerships during a Global Gateway forum, the EU’s €300 billion ($317 billion) investment initiative, scheduled for October 25-26 in Brussels.
The event will bring together EU leaders, representatives from other countries, and European business leaders.
The negotiations with the DRC followed a visit to Kinshasa by French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commissioner Thierry Breton in March, as reported by Andre Wameso, the deputy chief of staff for economic matters for Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi. A Zambian official has not yet responded to requests for comment.
These agreements will facilitate access to critical materials and contribute to the development of the strategic Lobito/trans-Africa corridor—a railway project connecting Angola, the DRC, and Zambia to facilitate the transport of raw materials across the Atlantic.
Congo is the world’s largest cobalt producer and a significant copper producer, while Zambia is also a key copper supplier. Western governments are aiming to establish alliances with both countries to challenge China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a memorandum of understanding with Congo and Zambia last year to explore cooperative efforts in developing an electric vehicle value chain.
During the recent Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, the EU and the US affirmed their commitment to cooperate on transport infrastructure investments, trade facilitation measures, sustainable economic growth, and capital investment in the three countries linked by the Lobito/trans-Africa corridor. As an initial step, they will support preliminary studies for the construction of the new Zambia-Lobito railway line.
Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, emphasized that this partnership aims to invest in local value chains, clean energy, and workforce development. It represents a comprehensive approach to significant infrastructure investments.
