Washington seeks to position itself on the exploitation of cobalt and lithium in the DRC
Amos Hochstein, Washington Special Envoy and Coordinator of International Energy Affairs.
(illustrative image) AFP - -
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Amos Hochstein, special envoy of the Biden administration and coordinator of international energy affairs, ended his working stay in Kinshasa on Tuesday.
He met Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, and the two men particularly discussed the development of the mining sector, the United States showing interest in cobalt and lithium in the DRC.
This visit comes a month after that of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Patient Ligodi
The United States considers the DRC to be a strategic country in accelerating the energy transition.
And the crisis between Russia and Ukraine demonstrates that countries would benefit from diversifying their sources of supply to avoid, according to Amos Hochstein, “
the world economy being held hostage by a single producing country
”.
The current situation testifies, he adds, to the urgency of accelerating the energy transition.
“
Insofar as we are accelerating the energy transition, instead of using gasoline or diesel, we are going to use electric batteries.
Thus, cobalt, nickel and lithium are needed.
The Congolese territory is full of these minerals.
The DRC can be part of the solution for the world.
»
However, to attract American investors in this area, the United States sets prerequisites.
“
We have been very encouraged by President Félix Tshisekedi about his interest in the fight against corruption.
We want to see it in action.
We want these words to translate into actions.
In the mining sector, we want to see a significant reduction in corruption.
If that progress happens, you'll see the kinds of investments we want to see in the DRC.
»
According to several observers, these recommendations target the majority Chinese companies in the mining sector in the DRC.
The Middle Kingdom is also one of the main destinations for Congolese mining products.
Ally of the United States, although a follower of economic multilateralism, Félix Tshisekedi had called at the end of 2020 for an audit of
mining partnerships with Chinese companies
.
An approach supported by the United States.
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