Congo says it would seek other partners if US minerals framework fails

CAPE TOWN: The Democratic ‌Republic of Congo will look for other partners if its minerals cooperation framework with the US does not lead ​to concrete projects, the country’s mines minister said.
“Everything we have done with America is a framework under which we will discuss questions of mutual interest. That is all it is,” Louis Watum Kabamba said on the sidelines of the Indaba mining conference in Cape Town.
“It may ‌become a ‌good major project. It may ​also ‌become another ⁠project ​that does ⁠not interest them. We will continue because there are many other partners to discuss with.”
Congo, home to some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, copper and lithium, in December signed a framework agreement with the US aimed at ⁠developing a supply chain for critical minerals ‌used in data centers, ‌defense and electric vehicles.
Washington wants access ​to a spectrum ‌of natural resources as it scrambles to counter ‌China’s dominance.
But the minister said the arrangement remained preliminary.
“For those who think we are going to sell everything for nothing to America, I must be very ‌clear: we have sold nothing. And we will sell nothing for nothing,” he ⁠added.
Watum ⁠Kabamba said Congo’s minerals endowment is exploited at less than 10 percent today. The central African country hosts major mining companies including Western-listed Glencore and Ivanhoe Mines, as well as China’s CMOC Group and Zijin Mining.