Battle for Congo’s Mineral Data Heats Up
A high-stakes standoff is unfolding between KoBold Metals, a US mining company backed by tech giants Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, and Belgian authorities over access to colonial-era geological records held in Belgium’s Africa Museum. The records, containing crucial data on Congo’s vast mineral deposits, are deemed essential by KoBold for its AI-driven search for lithium, cobalt, and copper.
According to the company’s representatives, the archives are vital for analyzing the country’s geological potential and identifying new deposits. KoBold had signed an agreement with the Congolese government in July 2025 to digitize the records, but Belgium has refused to release them, citing concerns over privatization and exclusive access.
The dispute highlights growing tensions over control of critical mineral intelligence in Africa, as the world rushes to secure supplies of key materials for the clean energy transition. Congo’s mineral wealth, including cobalt, lithium, and copper, is crucial for global supply chains, and the country’s government has been pushing for repatriation of colonial-era assets.
“The archives are particularly valuable in the current context,” says Bart Ouvry, director of the Africa Museum. “These are very varied documents, some of which mention the presence of minerals that were not highly sought after at the time but are today.”
Belgium has committed to digitizing the archives, but KoBold wants to expedite the process, offering to provide technology and resources. However, Belgian Minister for Science Policy Vanessa Matz insists that the company cannot take possession of the original documents, as Belgium did not sign the agreement.
The standoff has implications for Western efforts to diversify sourcing of battery metals and reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled processing. The outcome will be closely watched, as it could impact the development of critical mineral deposits in Congo and beyond.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
