{"id":89439,"date":"2025-03-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/climate\/2025\/03\/14\/us-eyes-drcs-critical-minerals\/"},"modified":"2025-03-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T00:00:00","slug":"us-eyes-drcs-critical-minerals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/climate\/2025\/03\/14\/us-eyes-drcs-critical-minerals\/","title":{"rendered":"US eyes DRC\u2019s critical minerals"},"content":{"rendered":"

WeLight <\/strong>to bring renewables to Nigeria: <\/strong>Nigeria has struck a USD 200 mn agreement \u2014 backed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank \u2014 with pan African Distributed Renewable Energy company WeLight<\/a> to bring 400 renewable mini-grids and 50 MetroGrids to rural communities and areas surrounding urban centers, Reuters<\/a> reported on Monday. The project would provide energy security to some 1.5-2 mn people, aligning with the country\u2019s goal to increase renewables\u2019 share in its electricity mix from 22% to 50%. <\/p>\n

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US<\/strong> + DRC<\/strong> in talks<\/strong> over minerals agreement:<\/strong> The US is in early discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over a potential agreement granting American firms access to the African country\u2019s critical mineral reserves, the Financial Times<\/a> reported last week. The DRC \u2014 rich in copper, cobalt, and uranium \u2014 proposed an agreement last month that would allow US companies to extract resources and collaborate on a strategic mineral stockpile, according to a letter<\/a> sent to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on behalf of Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi, according to FT. <\/p>\n

The catch?<\/strong> Washington would provide political and security support to President F\u00e9lix Tshisekedi, whose government is battling M23 rebels in the country\u2019s mineral-rich east, FT reports. The group \u2014 allegedly backed by Rwanda \u2014 has seized key mining areas in recent months, and continues to profit from the coltan trade through taxing informal mining operations to fund weapons and supplies. The group has been reportedly responsible for several human rights violations against civilian populations, some of them reduced to de facto slavery, the Wall Street Journal<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n

IN CONTEXT-<\/strong> The discussions follow the Trump administration\u2019s push to secure critical supply chains after the fallout of the Ukrainian agreement<\/a> last week, while also reducing Chinese resource extraction and influence in Africa. No major US mining firms have operated in the DRC since Freeport-McMoRan exited the Tenke Fungurume copper mine in 2016, the FT added. <\/p>\n

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-<\/strong><\/p>\n