• The United States advanced talks to source critical minerals from the DRC, targeting assets operated by Ivanhoe Mines and Glencore.
• Ivanhoe said discussions covered exporting zinc, copper, lead, germanium, and gallium from the Kipushi mine to the United States.
• A U.S.-backed consortium agreed to value Glencore’s Mutanda and Kamoto mines at about $9 billion under a proposed stake acquisition.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kipushi zinc mine has emerged as a potential supplier for the U.S. strategic stockpile of critical minerals, which carries a $12 billion budget. Canadian operator Ivanhoe Mines reported the information on Tuesday, February 3, and said it held discussions with its partners on the project, including state miner Gécamines, regarding the structure of the initiative. The move, combined with a parallel U.S. push targeting Glencore-operated copper assets, highlighted Washington’s accelerating strategy on critical minerals in the DRC.

Two Tracks to Supply the U.S. Market

The United States launched its strategic stockpile of critical minerals earlier this week to secure domestic industrial supply chains against disruption risks. Although authorities have not officially disclosed sourcing details, Ivanhoe’s communication on Kipushi offered an initial indication. The company and its partners discussed an agreement to export zinc, copper, and lead concentrates, along with germanium and gallium, from the site to the United States.

The structure would involve a trading company recently created by Gécamines and Swiss group Mercuria. The Congolese state miner holds 38% of the Kipushi mine, while Mercuria has held, since 2025, the right to acquire up to one-third of Kipushi’s unallocated zinc concentrate. While parties have yet to define final terms, the U.S. supply-security strategy has simultaneously expanded to the Mutanda and Kamoto copper and cobalt mines, which Glencore operates.

In this case, Washington does not aim to feed the strategic stockpile but instead seeks to secure a direct share of production. Orion Critical Mineral, a consortium formed last year with U.S. backing, signed a memorandum of understanding with Glencore to acquire 40% interests in both mines. A joint statement said the transaction would imply a combined valuation of about $9 billion for Mutanda and Kamoto. The structure would grant designated buyers production volumes proportional to the stake, “thereby guaranteeing the supply of minerals to the United States and its partners.”

Early Moves Under the U.S.–DRC Mining Partnership

Taken together, the Kipushi initiative and the Glencore transactions follow a single logic: securing U.S. access to critical minerals. More broadly, the moves mark the first tangible advances under the bilateral partnership signed in early December 2025 between Kinshasa and Washington, which aims to encourage U.S. investment in Congo’s mining sector.

In January, authorities submitted a list of strategic Congolese mining assets to U.S. companies under the agreement. Officials have not disclosed the list’s contents, and authorities have not confirmed whether the three mines recently targeted appear on it. However, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the Orion proposal already aligned fully with the partnership’s objectives.

“This proposed transaction between Glencore and the U.S.-backed Orion Critical Mineral consortium reflects the fundamental objectives of the U.S.–DRC strategic partnership agreement by encouraging increased U.S. investment in the DRC’s mining sector and promoting secure, reliable, and mutually beneficial flows of critical minerals between our two countries,” Landau said.

For the DRC, the initiatives extend beyond attracting fresh mining investment. Authorities also aim to reduce the dominance of Chinese operators in the national mining sector. However, execution remains uncertain, as the Glencore offer depends on binding legal agreements and regulatory approvals. Glencore and Orion have already said they intend to “acquire additional critical mining projects and assets in the DRC,” setting the stage for further developments in the coming weeks.

This article was initially published in French by Aurel Sèdjro Houenou

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM