A US-backed investment group has sealed one of the largest mining transactions in Africa in recent years, marking a significant shift in the geopolitics of critical minerals and raising fresh questions about how the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can translate resource wealth into broader national development.
Under a $9 billion agreement, the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium (Orion CMC) will acquire a 40 percent stake in copper and cobalt operations owned by Glencore in the DRC. The transaction, which is supported by the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), focuses on two of the country’s most significant assets, Mutanda Mining (MUMI) and Kamoto Copper Company (KCC).
The DRC produces the majority of the world’s cobalt, an indispensable mineral for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage; and it is a leading supplier of copper, a backbone metal for clean power grids and electric mobility. By investing directly in these operations, the United States is seeking to secure long-term strategic counterweight, to access a mineral critical to its energy transition, in order to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled supply chains.
The consortium is led by Orion Resource Partners, with backing from Abu Dhabi’s ADQ and the DFC. While Glencore will retain operational control of the mines, Orion CMC gains substantial financial exposure, the right to appoint non-executive directors, and the ability to direct the sale of its share of production to nominated buyers. This will significantly influence where Congolese minerals ultimately flow to.
The deal aligns with the broader US-DRC Strategic Partnership framework, under which Washington has pledged support for infrastructure, responsible mining practices and value-chain development. This agreement represents a tangible step in countering China’s longstanding dominance in mineral processing and off-taking arrangements across the African copper belt. Over many years, Chinese firms have secured controlling stakes in many of the DRC’s largest mining projects, often bundling infrastructure financing with mineral rights. Objectively, the Orion transaction indicates a more assertive, coordinated Western response that blends private capital with public development finance tools.
The Human and community stakes in this transaction, carry real positive implications for mining communities in southern Congo, where employment, environmental safeguards and revenue transparency remain as pressing concerns. Mutanda and Kamoto together employ thousands of workers directly and support many more through contractors and local supply chains. Labour advocates and civil society groups have long pushed for stronger oversight of working conditions, improved safety standards and transparent accounting report on royalties paid to provincial governments. The DFC’s involvement could introduce stricter environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements. US-backed development finance institutions typically require compliance with international labour standards, community engagement frameworks and environmental impact mitigation measures. Whether these standards are rigorously enforced on the ground will be closely observed by the local stakeholders.
Also, community leaders in Lualaba province have previously called for more visible reinvestment of mining revenues into schools, health centers and road infrastructure. So, with a new consortium on board, there may be renewed space for dialogue on local content policies, SMS participation in supply chains and political/economic gains/leverages.
Continue reading with Eandel
Subscribe to unlock the complete story and receive your subscriber benefits.
