In Congo, US mining company fights for subsoil data held in Belgium museum
President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi (L) looks at a ceremonial mask handed over by Belgium's King Philippe (R) at the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Kinshasa on June 8, 2022.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich subsoil has become the focus of a high-stakes dispute that could shape the narrative on custody of geological data from as far back as colonial days.
As it is, millions of geological archives for the Congo are held in Belgium’s Africa Museum. And mining firm Kobold Metals, a US company backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, wants to peruse the data for decisions on where to put their money. The firm, which has agreements with Kinshasa to explore lithium deposits in southern regions of Manono, hopes to use artificial intelligence to unlock the country’s full geological potential.
