The exploration licences include four permits in the lithium-rich Manono territory. Credit: Alexander56891/Shutterstock.com.

KoBold Metals, a company supported by prominent figures such as Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, has been granted seven exploration permits in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a Reuters report.

These permits will allow the company to commence a large-scale mineral exploration programme for lithium and other minerals.

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The permits, issued by the Central African country, are part of a deal signed in July, which also offers KoBold the potential to acquire the Manono deposit.

A company official was quoted by the news agency as saying: “Our exploration efforts across all seven new licences will be focused on lithium.”

The exploration licences cover areas in both the Tanganyika and Haut-Lomami provinces.

Four permits are located in the lithium-rich Manono territory in Tanganyika province, with the remaining three in Malemba Nkulu territory in Haut-Lomami province.

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The permits encompass the search for several minerals including coltan and rare earths.

The Manono lithium deposit, considered to be one of the world’s largest, is currently at the heart of a legal dispute involving the Congolese Government and AVZ Minerals, an Australian mining company, over the issuance of a mining permit.

In a related development, KoBold Metals has expanded its exploration footprint by entering into an agreement with Aurion Resources for critical minerals exploration in Finland.

KoBold Exploration Finland, a subsidiary of KoBold Metals, has been granted the right to earn a 75% interest in non-gold and silver commodities within Aurion’s Risti property.

As part of the Finnish agreement, KoBold will invest €11.07m  ($12m) in exploration activities by the fifth anniversary of the deal’s signing.

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