Congo Demands Investments Over Signed Deals at Paris Steering Committee Meeting
Congolese Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba stated that the success of the strategic partnership between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo must be judged by physical projects delivered on the ground rather than the total volume of signed agreements. His remarks followed the second meeting of the partnership’s joint steering committee held in Paris on Thursday, where officials evaluated progress on the Lobito Corridor, the proposed Grand Inga hydropower complex, and efforts to channel more Congolese minerals into American markets.
“Our requirement is to move from signed agreements to real investments,” Mukoko Samba said, emphasizing that the bilateral framework needs to generate mineral processing operations, reliable electricity access, and employment directly inside the country. According to Reuters reporting, Congolese officials also pressed for technology and skills transfers, strict compliance with domestic mining laws, and expanded involvement from American investors.
Strategic Minerals Pact and the Right of First Offer
Washington and Kinshasa formalized their strategic partnership on December 4, 2025, establishing a cooperative framework spanning critical minerals, infrastructure, energy, and investment. Under the terms of the agreement, American companies receive preferential opportunities to compete for assets placed within Congo’s Strategic Asset Reserve as well as projects designated by the Congolese government.
The United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo met in Paris yesterday for the second meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of the U. S.-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement. The Committee recognized important milestones, including the signing of the concession… pic.twitter.com/mNaXNf6f2K
Rather than granting automatic ownership of a mine, the arrangement provides a US investor with a right of first offer. When a proposal is submitted, both parties may negotiate for up to nine months before the Congolese government opens the bidding process to other aligned investors. Similar terms apply to certain minerals earmarked for export, giving American buyers the first opportunity to negotiate purchase agreements.
Congo remains the world’s leading producer of cobalt and its second-largest producer of copper, both of which are essential inputs for electric vehicles, power networks, electronics and other advanced industries. China presently controls much of the processing infrastructure surrounding these supply chains. The US partnership represents an effort by Washington to secure alternative raw material sources for domestic manufacturers and decrease reliance on Chinese-controlled processing facilities.
🇨🇩🤝🇺🇸 DR Congo and US Advance Strategic Partnership on Grand Inga, Lobito and Critical Minerals DR Congo and the United States held the second meeting of their Joint Steering Committee in Paris on November 5, 2026, to review progress on major investment projects. 🇨🇩 Deputy… pic.twitter.com/yOzdyIxPt4
Financing the Lobito Corridor and the Grand Inga Hydropower Project
Infrastructure development formed a major focus of the Paris talks, particularly the Lobito Corridor. In August, the Congolese government awarded Portuguese construction company Mota-Engil Africa a 30-year concession to rehabilitate, modernize, operate, and maintain the 1,004-kilometre Dilolo–Sakania railway. The Congolese presidency estimates the total investment needed for this segment at $1.258 billion. The rail line links Congo’s copper production hubs—including Kolwezi, Tenke, and Lubumbashi—to the Angolan railway system and the Atlantic port of Lobito.
Under the concession agreement, Congo will retain at least a 10% stake in the project company and collect a royalty equal to 7.5% of annual gross revenue. The concessionaire assumes traffic risk and secures financing independently, without requiring a Congolese sovereign guarantee. Separately, the US International Development Finance Corporation previously provided a $553 million loan to support the Lobito Atlantic Railway infrastructure inside Angola.
Officials in Paris also reviewed the Grand Inga hydropower programme, which Kinshasa intends to use to power households, mines, and domestic processing plants. The World Bank estimates that only about 21% of Congo’s population has access to electricity despite the nation’s vast hydroelectric potential. Funding preparation studies, local infrastructure, and community support for the Inga 3 development programme—a planned $1 billion initiative—began when the World Bank approved an initial $250 million credit in 2025. While the Paris meetings advanced bilateral coordination on the project, neither Washington nor its development finance agency announced a new funding allocation following the steering committee session.
American and Indian Firms Acquire Chemaf Through Joint Venture
The partnership has already yielded a major physical transaction in the mining sector. Congolese copper and cobalt producer Chemaf was acquired through a joint venture formed by Indian steelmaker Lloyds Metals and Energy alongside US-based Virtus Minerals. The transaction involved a $30 million payment to Chemaf shareholders alongside the assumption of approximately $900 million in debt. The new owners have scheduled a return to full production by 2027.
While the Chemaf buyout establishes an early American-linked foothold in Congo’s mining industry, Kinshasa maintains that a single transaction does not fulfill the broader ambitions of the bilateral agreement. The government continues to push for multiple active mines, improved transportation corridors, domestic processing capabilities, expanded power grids, and local jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions About the US-Congo Mineral Partnership
What specific rights do American companies receive under the mineral agreement?
US companies gain preferential opportunities to bid on assets within Congo’s Strategic Asset Reserve. This includes a right of first offer allowing up to nine months of exclusive negotiation before Kinshasa opens projects to other aligned investors.
How much is the railway concession connecting Congo’s copper mines to the Atlantic?
The Congolese presidency estimates the investment required for the 1,004-kilometre Dilolo–Sakania railway concession at $1.258 billion. The project is managed by Portuguese firm Mota-Engil Africa under a 30-year agreement.
What financing has been committed to the Grand Inga hydropower initiative?
The World Bank approved an initial $250 million credit in 2025 as the first phase of a planned $1 billion Inga 3 development programme. The funding covers project studies, local infrastructure, and community preparation near the site.
When is production expected to resume at the acquired Chemaf mining assets?
The joint venture between US-based Virtus Minerals and Indian steelmaker Lloyds Metals and Energy plans to restart full production at the Chemaf copper and cobalt operations in 2027.
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