• KoBold Metals secures seven lithium exploration permits in DRC
• Licenses cover Manono, Malemba Nkulu; focus remains on lithium
• Deal with Kinshasa pending AVZ Minerals dispute resolution

U.S. company KoBold Metals, which is backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has secured seven lithium exploration permits in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the Congolese mining cadastre website, the licenses also cover other metals, including tin, rare earth minerals, coltan, and gold, in the Manono territory of Tanganyika province and the Malemba Nkulu territory of Haut-Lomami province.

"Our exploration efforts across all seven new licenses will be focused on lithium," a KoBold official told Reuters. The lithium in the Manono deposit is central to KoBold Metals' ambitions in the DRC.

In mid-July, KoBold signed a preliminary agreement with Kinshasa to develop this project and pursue other mining investments in the DRC. However, the partnership's finalization depends on resolving a long-standing dispute between the Congolese government and Australian company AVZ Minerals, which claims rights to the Manono project.

In the meantime, KoBold could launch its first exploration work in the DRC in the coming months. The company has already hired Benjamin Katabuka as the general manager of its Congolese subsidiary.

Emiliano Tossou