Democratic Republic of Congo Teams Up with Japan to Boost Mineral Discovery Using AI and Geospatial Tech
On the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan, the National Geological Survey of Congo (SGNC) and Japanese company Solafune signed a strategic partnership to advance mineral exploration in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The agreement, signed in the presence of Congolese Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba, initiates its first phase immediately.
The partnership introduces a cutting-edge platform that integrates satellite remote sensing, geospatial data, and artificial intelligence (AI) to equip Congolese geologists with modern, high-performance tools.
These technologies aim to deepen understanding of the DRC’s soil and subsoil, ultimately facilitating the discovery of new mineral deposits.
Minister Kabamba highlighted that nearly 90% of the Congolese subsoil remains unexplored. He emphasized that this initiative represents a decisive step in technology transfer to national technical services, enabling the SGNC to expand geological mapping and accelerate the identification of new mineral reserves across the country.
Aligned with the vision of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and the guidance of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, Minister Kabamba concluded that the discovery of each new deposit will pave the way for the development of new mines, generating wealth and economic opportunities for the Congolese people.
