AI-driven American miner seeks exploration permits as it targets one of the world’s largest untapped lithium reserves.
KoBold Metals has taken a significant step forward in its ambitions to tap into the Democratic Republic of Congo’s vast lithium potential, officially filing for exploration permits with the country’s Mining Cadastre (CAMI) last Wednesday.
The submission was made by KoBold’s DRC-based CEO, Benjamin Katabuka, who also met with CAMI CEO Popol Mabolia Yenga to discuss the company’s roadmap for mineral development in the country.
Strategic Deal Signed
This move follows a high-profile agreement signed on 17 July 2025 between KoBold Metals and the Congolese government. The deal—inked by Minister of Mines Kizito Pakabomba and Katabuka in Kinshasa—lays the groundwork for a major push into advanced mining and exploration. It focuses on:
- Digitizing the country’s geological data
- Deploying AI and other cutting-edge exploration technologies
- Fast-tracking development of the Manono lithium project in Tanganyika Province
Backed by a roster of U.S. investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures (supported by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos), KoBold Metals is rapidly becoming a key player in the global hunt for energy transition minerals.
A World-Class Lithium Deposit
At the heart of the company’s plans is the Manono deposit—widely considered one of the largest untapped lithium reserves in the world. With an estimated 132 million tonnes of lithium-bearing ore and a projected annual output of 4.5 million tonnes, Manono could be a game-changer for the global EV battery supply chain.
KoBold intends to invest more than $1 billion in the project. CEO Kurt House has already met with President Félix Tshisekedi to accelerate regulatory approvals and move the development forward.
Legal Tensions Over Ownership
However, the Manono project remains mired in a complex legal dispute. Initially controlled by Australia’s AVZ Minerals, the site’s development permit was revoked by the DRC’s Ministry of Mines in 2023, citing project delays. The rights were then reassigned to a subsidiary of Chinese mining giant Zijin.
AVZ responded by initiating legal action at the International Court of Arbitration and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, seeking to reclaim its stake in the project.
KoBold has publicly stated that it is committed to resolving the dispute and fully acquiring the rights to develop Manono, bringing both capital and advanced technology to the table.
Looking Beyond Manono
Despite the legal uncertainty surrounding Manono, KoBold’s ambitions in the DRC stretch far beyond a single mine. The company is planning a countrywide exploration program that will rely on artificial intelligence and data-driven prospecting to identify and develop other high-value mineral deposits.
Its vision is to turn the DRC into a hub for world-class, tech-enabled mineral production, focusing on critical raw materials essential for the global energy transition.
