A worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is disrupting travel and delaying meetings tied to a U.S.-backed critical minerals partnership aimed at loosening China’s hold on Congo’s vast copper and cobalt resources, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The outbreak has made travel to and from Congo increasingly difficult, with quarantine requirements and health concerns forcing officials and investors to postpone visits, two consultants advising on US investments and a diplomat said.
Congo world’s top cobalt producer
Congo is the world’s top cobalt producer and second-largest copper supplier, with significant deposits of germanium, lithium and tantalum, making it a key source of energy-transition minerals and a focus of global competition.
The United States and China have separately expanded minerals partnerships with Kinshasa to boost investment and secure access to its mineral deposits.
The outbreak, declared in mid-May, has infected 2,011 people and killed 754, according to government data.
The US Embassy in Kinshasa on July 11 urged Americans not to travel to Congo “for any reason” because of Ebola and warned that travellers exposed to the virus could face up to 21 days of quarantine at their own expense.
A US State Department spokesperson told Reuters that Washington “has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans”.
Contain outbreak while advancing minerals partnership
The department said in an emailed response that the U.S. was working to contain the outbreak while advancing its minerals partnership with Congo, citing progress on the Lobito Corridor and Kinshasa’s commitment to facilitating U.S. investment.
A diplomatic source said the outbreak was delaying the US-Congo minerals partnership and that deal discussions had been postponed, declining to give details.
The source said a Washington meeting planned for last month to review US companies’ interest in Congolese projects had been postponed, though discussions have continued elsewhere, including London.
The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
The Congolese government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Some investors and officials have shifted meetings to Paris and Brussels, a consultant said, adding that a planned July review of Congolese projects had been cancelled because key partners were unable to travel from the United States.
- The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is disrupting travel and delaying meetings related to a U.S.-backed minerals partnership aimed at reducing China's influence on Congo's copper and cobalt resources.
- Congo, the world's top cobalt producer and second-largest copper supplier, is a crucial source of energy-transition minerals, attracting competition from the U.S. and China.
- Since mid-May, the Ebola outbreak has infected 2,011 people and caused 754 deaths, prompting the U.S. Embassy to advise Americans against travel to Congo and enforce quarantine measures.
- U.S. officials report delays in the minerals partnership discussions, including the postponement of a key meeting in Washington, though talks continue in other locations such as London.
- Some investors and officials have relocated meetings to Paris and Brussels, with planned project reviews canceled due to travel restrictions and health concerns.
A worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of
A US State Department spokesperson told Reuters that
A diplomatic source said the outbreak was delaying the US-
Some investors and officials have shifted meetings to Paris and Brussels, a consultant said, adding that a planned July review of
