A deteriorating Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo is throwing major roadblocks in front of a U.S.-backed initiative to gain greater access to the country’s critical mineral deposits, according to three people with knowledge of the situation who spoke to Reuters.
The outbreak has made travel to and from Congo increasingly complicated, with quarantine rules and health worries pushing officials and investors to put off planned trips. A diplomat and two consultants advising on U.S. investments confirmed the delays.
Congo holds the distinction of being the world’s leading producer of cobalt and its second-largest supplier of copper. The country also has substantial deposits of germanium, lithium, and tantalum — all considered vital materials for the global shift to clean energy — making it a hotly contested prize in international competition.
Both the United States and China have independently pursued minerals agreements with the Congolese capital of Kinshasa in recent years, each seeking to lock in access to the country’s abundant resources.
The Ebola outbreak was officially declared in mid-May. Since then, government figures show it has sickened 2,011 people and claimed 754 lives.
On July 11, the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa issued a stark warning, telling American citizens not to travel to Congo “for any reason” due to the Ebola situation. The embassy also cautioned that anyone exposed to the virus could be required to undergo up to 21 days of quarantine at their own cost.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Reuters that Washington “has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans.”
In a written response, the State Department said the U.S. is simultaneously working to bring the outbreak under control while continuing to pursue its minerals partnership with Congo. Officials pointed to progress along the Lobito Corridor and Kinshasa’s stated commitment to welcoming U.S. investment.
A diplomatic source confirmed that the outbreak is causing delays in the minerals partnership, saying deal-related discussions have been pushed back, though the source declined to provide specifics.
That same source noted that a Washington meeting originally scheduled for last month — intended to gauge U.S. companies’ interest in Congolese mining projects — was postponed. Some discussions have continued in other locations, including London.
The sources asked not to be identified, as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The Congolese government had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
According to one consultant, some investors and officials have relocated meetings to Paris and Brussels. A planned July review of Congolese projects was also cancelled after key U.S.-based partners were unable to make the trip.
