The Democratic Republic of Congo has approved a new DRC-USA Task Force aimed at speeding up implementation of its strategic minerals partnership with the United States, as Kinshasa seeks to attract more Western investment into its copper and cobalt industries.

The partnership was signed in December and is part of a broader effort by the DRC to diversify investment and strengthen its position in global critical mineral supply chains.

The country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt and one of the world’s leading copper producers, making it increasingly important to governments and companies looking to secure supplies of minerals used in energy infrastructure, batteries, electronics and other technologies.

According to Reuters, the partnership has already supported a US-backed investment through Virtus Minerals and expanded sales arrangements involving state-owned Gécamines, commodities trader Mercuria and Glencore.
The new task force is intended to move the agreement from policy commitments towards practical projects and investment.
DRC Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba said the mechanism would help translate the partnership into tangible economic and security benefits for Congolese citizens.

The development comes as the DRC continues to push for greater value from its mineral resources while seeking a wider range of international partners. The country has repeatedly emphasised its ambition to move beyond the role of a supplier of raw minerals and secure more investment across processing, infrastructure and mineral value chains.

For the United States, closer cooperation with the DRC also forms part of wider efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains and reduce dependence on processing and supply networks dominated by China.

The establishment of the task force adds another step to what could become one of the most strategically important mineral partnerships between the United States and an African producer.