Canadian firm Tsodilo Resources announces the establishment of two subsidiaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RDC) and Namibia. In RDC, the initial target areas are located in the Haut-Lomami and Tshopo provinces, two territories with mineral potential for several metals sought after by the technology and energy industries.
"The company has identified opportunities to leverage its drilling rigs, geophysical equipment, and internal exploration capabilities in other countries to search for critical minerals and rare earths," stated Tsodilo Resources in its press release published on 14 October 2026.
The Canadian group intends to explore territories where geological potential remains insufficiently documented, outside the traditional Katanga copper belt in the southeast of the country. "Vast territories, particularly outside the Katanga copper belt, remain underexplored," the company emphasizes.
In Haut-Lomami, the planned research focuses on lithium, tantalum, and niobium. The province is situated within the geological environment of the Kibara belt, known for its tin, tungsten, gold, and tantalum mineralization, the latter being notably present in coltan.
Certain pegmatite formations in the region are also likely to contain lithium, a metal essential for battery manufacturing.
To support its outlook, Tsodilo relies on historical production, artisanal mining, and exploration work already conducted in these areas. The group believes that certain pegmatites could contain untapped resources.
In Tshopo, in the northeast of RDC, Tsodilo plans to search for gold, copper, and lithium. East of Kisangani, the geological basement of the Congo Craton hosts the Ngayu greenstone belt, known for its gold mineralization.
This strategy remains contingent upon obtaining the necessary authorizations. The establishment of subsidiaries does not imply that exploration operations can commence immediately.
Tsodilo specifies that the processes initiated with mineral permit holders and relevant authorities regarding title allocation are still ongoing. However, the company expresses cautious optimism regarding their conclusion in the near future.
China dominates industrial copper and cobalt mining in RDC, with CMOC (Tenke Fungurume and Kisanfu), Zijin Mining (Kamoa-Kakula), CNMC, and Jinchuan Group present at various levels of the value chain, from extraction to commercialization.
The United States is also seeking to strengthen its position, notably with KoBold Metals in mining exploration and Virtus Minerals, associated in 2026 with the acquisition of Chemaf. Canada already holds assets in the country: Ivanhoe Mines participates in Kamoa-Kakula and operates a majority stake in the Kipushi zinc mine, while Barrick, Alphamin Resources, and Loncor Gold are active in gold, tin, and gold exploration, respectively.
Claude Paul Tjeg
Published on 14/10/26 12:34
The Editorial Staff