DRC Civil Society Demands Transparency, Local Jobs, and Fair Revenue Sharing in KoBold Metals Lithium Exploration
Following the granting of seven exploration permits to the U.S.-based company KoBold Metals, the Coalition for the Recovery of the Mining and Petroleum Assets of the Congolese People (CORAC) has issued a series of recommendations to ensure that this partnership delivers tangible benefits for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
CORAC is urging the government to guarantee full transparency of contracts, including the introduction of binding clauses with clear deadlines and penalties.
The coalition also stresses the importance of local content, demanding that more than half of jobs and subcontracting opportunities be reserved for Congolese workers and businesses.
Key Recommendations from CORAC
Transparent contracts with enforceable terms
Local job creation and subcontracting opportunities for Congolese companies
Equitable revenue distribution through a sovereign wealth fund dedicated to education, health, and infrastructure
Continuous dialogue with local communities, ensuring that Manono and Malemba-Nkulu benefit directly from the project’s spinoffs
For the coalition, lithium and other strategic minerals represent a national heritage critical to Congo’s future.
CORAC highlights that the entry of KoBold Metals provides a unique chance to break with past delays and disputes, but only if the government enforces accountability, citizen participation, and international standards.
The coalition concludes with a call for the authorities to seize this moment as a historic turning point—one where mineral wealth becomes not a curse, but a lever of prosperity and dignity for the Congolese people.
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