The country aims to improve regulation and set up special economic zones in a bid to incentivise investment.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) issued a call for investment in the country’s resources of energy transition metals at the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The country is seeking to become a keystone source of commodities vital to a number of markets, especially electric vehicles.

President Felix Tshisekedi and Chairman Alphonse Kaputo Kalubi have been hoping to attract new investment in the country from the mining sector. The DRC seeks to incentivise investment via improved regulations and setting up a special economic zone aimed specifically at lithium projects.

The DRC, already the majority originator of worldwide cobalt, faces a number of challenges in regard to encouraging domestic investment. Issues including quality of energy supply, road infrastructure and rail network have, in the past, impacted a miners' abilities to operate. 

With additional plans for a special economic zone for lithium projects, the DRC seems to be acknowledging the challenges of operating within the country. These zones had been posited in the past as part of a battery production initiative, with the claim that the independence afforded to these jurisdictions would incentivise further investment in the country.