A renewed push by the United States to secure access to critical minerals is beginning to take shape on the ground in Central Africa, with Virtus Minerals moving to revive operations at Chemaf’s cobalt and copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo following regulatory approval of its acquisition.
The deal, endorsed by authorities in Kinshasa, represents the first takeover of producing mining assets under the U.S.–Congo minerals partnership, shifting the collaboration beyond earlier offtake agreements into direct operational control of strategic resources.
Chemaf confirmed that the Congolese government had approved the transaction, while Virtus said it had obtained the necessary clearances from the mines ministry, the portfolio ministry and state-owned Gecamines, which holds the mining leases.
However, the process has not been without controversy. Previous reports indicated that some Gecamines executives were removed amid concerns they were obstructing the deal. Neither the state miner nor the mines ministry has commented publicly on the development.
“Virtus said its focus was on inventory verification, technical and operational assessments and restart planning across Chemaf’s asset base, with timelines dependent on completion.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo plays a pivotal role in global mineral supply chains as the largest producer of cobalt and a major source of copper and lithium—materials essential for electric vehicles, battery storage and broader clean energy technologies. This has made the country a focal point in Washington’s efforts to diversify supply and reduce dependence on China’s dominance in the sector.
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg said the Congolese government had approved the sale as part of the broader minerals agreement between the two countries, underscoring Washington’s strategy to build a more secure and resilient critical minerals supply chain.
As it prepares to take over operations, Virtus said its immediate priority is to stabilise the business and ensure a smooth transition, with a strong emphasis on maintaining jobs and operational continuity.
“Virtus said its priority was to stabilise the business and support a responsible restart of operations, while building long-term growth beyond the flagship Mutoshi and Etoile projects through Chemaf’s wider permit portfolio.”
The company added that workforce stability would be central to its plans, though it cautioned that it is still too early to outline production targets, workforce size or capital investment requirements.
“Workforce continuity would be central to the transition,” the company said, noting that further details would emerge as technical assessments and planning efforts progress.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah