Congo declares it will seek out other partners in the event that US Minerals Framework fails

If the minerals?cooperation agreement with the United States does not lead to concrete projects, then the Democratic Republic of Congo will seek out other partners. The country's mining minister stated that the framework does not result in concrete projects.

"Everything that we have done in our relationship with America has been a framework within which we can discuss issues of mutual interest." Louis Watum Kabamba told the crowds at the?Indaba Mining Conference in Cape Town that this is all there is.

It could become a major project. It could also be another project they don't like. We will continue to do so because "there are other partners with whom we can discuss."

The Congo, which has some of the largest cobalt, lithium and copper reserves in the world, signed an agreement with the U.S. in December to develop a supply chain?for critical minerals that are used in data centers, defence, and electric vehicles.

Washington is scrambling to counter China's dominance and wants to access a range of natural resources.

The minister stated that the agreement was still preliminary.

"To those who think that we are going to sell America everything for free, I want to be clear: We have not sold anything. "We will sell nothing at no cost," he said.

Watum Kabamba stated that less than 10% of Congo's mineral?endowment is currently exploited. Central African countries host major mining companies, including Western-listed Glencore and Ivanhoe Mines as well as China’s CMOC Group and Zijin Mining.

We are not interested in the rivalry between China & the United States. "We must play our own game as DRC," said he. "We have problems of our own." We must feed the people. "We must invest in our youth's human capital." Clara Denina, Maxwell Akalaare Adombila (Reporting) Mark Potter edited the article.

(source: Reuters)