KoBold Metals, the mining company backed by American billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, has launched what it calls the largest lithium exploration campaign in history in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The company will deploy artificial intelligence and advanced sensors to target one of the richest and least explored critical mining regions in the world.
KoBold will explore 13 permits covering more than 3,000 km², with the intention of expanding to 5,000 km² by the end of the year, focusing on the mineral-rich Manono region, where some of the world’s highest-quality lithium pegmatites have been identified, the company said.
The program includes 30,000 km² of airborne surveys, thousands of drill holes, and more than 30,000 geochemical samples, supported by over $50 million in funding through early 2027.
“A year ago, KoBold had no employees or land in the DRC,” CEO Kurt House said in a statement. “Today, we are the largest U.S. investor in the country and are launching the most ambitious mineral exploration program ever undertaken.”
This campaign underscores the strengthening strategic ties between the United States and the DRC and highlights the country’s emergence as a key frontier for critical minerals, where vast geological potential remains largely untapped despite decades of mining activity.
Aimé Binda
