Africa’s competition for critical minerals is becoming a contest not only for resources and capital, but also for speed. As Western and Chinese companies compete for lithium, copper and other strategic minerals, the ability to move projects through regulatory and permitting procedures is emerging as an increasingly important factor.
KoBold Metals’ president, Josh Goldman, argues that Western mining companies can compete with Chinese rivals on project delivery if African governments streamline approvals and improve coordination between regulators. Speaking to Reuters in September 2026, Goldman said companies can move quickly without compromising compliance standards if governments reduce administrative delays.
KoBold’s activities in Africa illustrate the issue. In Namibia, the US-based exploration company holds more than 7,000 square kilometers of exploration licenses, its largest land position globally. Goldman said KoBold wants to accelerate investment in the country but needs to be able to move faster through the regulatory process. The company has invested about $2 million in Namibia since 2022.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) provides a more relevant example for Central Africa. KoBold has obtained 14 exploration permits covering more than 3,000 square kilometers since 2025 and plans to invest more than $50 million in the DRC by early 2027. Its teams have been collecting an average of 2,000 soil samples a week since April 2026 as part of a lithium exploration campaign around Manono in southeastern DRC.
Technology is helping KoBold accelerate geological exploration, but technology alone does not determine how quickly a mining project can advance. Permits, regulatory decisions and coordination among government agencies can also affect the timeline between exploration, development and production.
That is where the comparison with China becomes relevant. Reuters reported that Chinese mining companies have often moved faster than Western competitors in Africa by navigating administrative processes quickly and supporting projects with related infrastructure, including railways, ports and processing facilities. In Manono, China’s Zijin Mining began lithium concentrate exports from an adjoining block in June 2026 after building supporting infrastructure.
For African governments, the challenge is therefore not simply to attract investment, but to create an environment in which legitimate projects can move from decision to implementation without unnecessary delays. Faster approvals do not necessarily mean weaker standards. Goldman’s argument is that regulatory compliance and speed can coexist when permitting systems are predictable and government agencies coordinate effectively.
The competition is intensifying as the US, Europe and China seek secure supplies of minerals such as lithium and copper for electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and defense technologies. Reuters has described the growing competition for critical resources as part of a broader global contest over strategic mineral supply chains.
For Africa, this adds another dimension to the competition for investment. Geological potential and mineral reserves may attract companies, but the investment environment can determine how quickly those resources move from exploration to development. Countries that can provide clear rules, coordinated institutions and predictable permitting processes may be better positioned to turn mineral potential into actual projects.
The central question, therefore, is not simply whether Africa has the resources investors need. It is whether African governments can create an investment environment in which administrative delays do not become a competitive disadvantage.
