The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is preparing to establish a central agency designed to streamline major mining investments as part of its strategic minerals partnership with the United States.
The proposed institution would operate as a one-stop investment agency, bringing together different government departments involved in mining projects and helping investors navigate the country’s regulatory system.
People familiar with the plans told Reuters that the initiative is part of broader efforts by Kinshasa to attract more Western investment into its vast mineral sector while improving coordination within government.
The move comes as DR Congo seeks to strengthen its position in global supply chains for critical minerals, particularly cobalt and copper, which are important to electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and other advanced technologies.
New agency to simplify mining investments
Under the proposed arrangement, the new agency would provide investors with a single point of contact when seeking approvals and information for major mining projects.
The objective is to reduce the number of government institutions investors have to deal with and make the process of establishing mining operations more predictable.
The plan forms part of commitments associated with the DR Congo-US strategic partnership, which covers critical minerals, infrastructure, governance and economic development. The agreement was signed in December 2025.
DR Congo has also established a separate task force to coordinate the implementation of the agreement and monitor commitments made by the two countries. Reuters reported last week that the task force was intended to speed up implementation and help attract additional Western investment into the country’s copper and cobalt industries.
US seeks greater access to critical minerals
The partnership comes as major economies compete to secure reliable supplies of minerals considered strategically important for modern industries.
DR Congo is particularly significant because it is the world’s leading producer of cobalt and one of the largest copper producers. Its mineral resources have historically attracted substantial investment from Chinese companies, making the country’s efforts to diversify its investment partners closely watched.
The US-DR Congo agreement provides a framework for cooperation on critical minerals and infrastructure, including provisions for strategic mineral and asset reserves and preferential opportunities for US investors in certain designated projects.
The arrangement is part of Washington’s broader effort to strengthen supply chains for minerals that are increasingly important to manufacturing, energy and technology industries.
DR Congo wants more Western investment
For Kinshasa, attracting additional Western investment could provide new sources of capital and technology for its mining sector.
The government has been working to improve the business environment and strengthen oversight of mineral resources while seeking greater economic benefits from the country’s enormous deposits.
The proposed investment agency is expected to play a role in making the process easier for companies interested in developing large-scale mining projects.
Government officials have also highlighted the need to connect mineral production with infrastructure development and greater local processing, rather than relying primarily on the export of raw materials.
Mining reforms under US partnership
The proposed agency is only one part of the wider reforms connected to the DR Congo-US agreement.
The partnership includes plans related to strategic mineral reserves, infrastructure development, local value addition and improvements to the regulatory environment.
The agreement also envisages measures aimed at strengthening transparency in the mining sector and combating the illicit exploitation and trade of minerals.
Another focus is the development of infrastructure that can improve the movement of minerals from mining areas to international markets.
These efforts are important because poor transport infrastructure and administrative bottlenecks have historically created challenges for businesses operating in parts of DR Congo.
Congo seeks to reduce dependence on China
The mining reforms also come amid Kinshasa’s efforts to diversify its economic relationships.
Chinese companies have a major presence in DR Congo’s mining industry, particularly in copper and cobalt. The proposed US partnership offers Kinshasa an opportunity to deepen ties with American and other Western investors.
The move does not necessarily mean an end to Chinese investment. Rather, it reflects DR Congo’s broader effort to attract capital from multiple international partners while securing better terms from its mineral wealth.
The government has also created mechanisms to coordinate the implementation of its agreement with Washington, signalling that the partnership is intended to extend beyond mineral exports into infrastructure and broader economic development.
What the new mining agency could mean for DR Congo
If implemented effectively, the proposed centralised agency could change how major investors engage with DR Congo’s mining authorities.
A single investment platform could reduce administrative delays and make it easier for international companies to understand the requirements for developing projects.
However, the success of the initiative will depend on how it is structured and whether it can improve transparency, coordination and predictability across the country’s mining institutions.
For DR Congo, the stakes are significant. The country possesses some of the world’s most important deposits of minerals needed for the global energy transition, yet it continues to face challenges in turning those resources into broad-based economic development.
The planned centralised mining investment agency therefore represents part of a wider attempt by Kinshasa to reform the sector, attract new international investors and gain greater economic value from its mineral resources.
As the DR Congo-US minerals partnership moves forward, attention will focus on whether these planned reforms can translate into new investments, stronger infrastructure and increased local benefits from the country’s mining industry.
