Critical minerals are central to the economic competitiveness and national security of the United States. From smart phones to high-speed guided missiles, critical minerals are essential components of defense systems, energy technologies, and the digital economy.
Of the 50 minerals identified as critical by the U.S. Geological Survey, 32 are found in substantial quantities across Africa. Moreover, Africa holds approximately 30% of the world’s known mineral reserves, including cobalt, manganese, lithium, bauxite, and copper. For the U.S. to capture greater value from African critical minerals, it should utilize the differentiators that set it apart, namely, its wealth of technology firms that specialize in data.
An Atlantic Council report, “Mining Corridors as Catalysts for US–African Partnerships: Building on the Lobito Model,” released last month by Aubrey Hruby, highlights these data-driven advantages, as well as the strength of models like the Lobito Corridor, which stand as the most significant U.S.-backed infrastructure investment in Africa in a generation.
What is the Lobito Corridor Model?
The report contends that logistic corridors and processing hubs offer the most promising pathway to unlock African critical mineral wealth at scale. These corridor projects integrate mining operations with transportation networks and energy systems, reducing logistics costs, deepening regional integration, creating employment opportunities, and advancing economic diversification.
The leading example of this approach is the Lobito Corridor, an 800-mile, multimodal transport network connecting Angola’s port to the mineral rich areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia’s Copperbelt. For the Lobito Corridor model to be replicated across additional African mining corridor and hub projects, data sharing must be prioritized.
Map of the Lobito Corridor railway connecting Angola’s Lobito port to the DRC and Zambian copper mining regions. Source: The Lobito Corridor Investment Promotion Authority (LCIPA)
For the many African critical mineral projects U.S.-based organizations and entities have been involved in so far, data has existed in silos. The data was collected and organized disparately, adversely affecting efficiency and collaboration. The report points out that information gaps between stakeholders can also raise risk premiums, slow project development, and disadvantage both host governments and credible investors.
Supporting Critical Mineral Corridors with Interoperable Data
To address this challenge, the U.S. must expand its role in Africa’s critical minerals ecosystem, and effectively pursue the Lobito model. To be successful, the environmental, social, infrastructure, and other interconnected requirements must be supported and advanced in a coordinated, comprehensive, and data-driven way.
The Atlantic Council and others have advocated for a shift toward establishing interoperable baseline data for an entire region from the outset. The U.S. has a prime opportunity to leverage its world-leading ecosystem of technology firms that excel at data capture and sharing to create this comprehensive data foundation. Greater data interoperability would allow all stakeholders, including partner nations, commercial operators, security agencies, environmental groups, and others, to access the same information and work in parallel rather than sequentially.
Widening access to data and increasing transparency also enables more actors to participate simultaneously. As a result, this shared data model can significantly compress timelines, improve coordination, and ensure that each party contributes to broader corridor development using a common, authoritative dataset.
Pursuing Cooperation Through Data Transparency and Governance
Having a unified data baseline not only enhances the overall efficiency of African critical mineral efforts across an entire corridor, but also benefits multiple stakeholders, including African partners, by equipping them with accurate, actionable information.
In today’s digital world, data is as valuable a resource as the critical minerals themselves. Hoarding or selectively sharing it mirrors other exploitative practices. An equitable critical mineral partnership seeking mutual prosperity therefore begins with data transparency. Beyond being ethically responsible, making data openly available to all participants from the outset is a far better strategy for long‑term business sustainability.
The Lobito model already stands in stark contrast to initiatives and projects that have historically been exploitative rather than cooperative. This approach can be reinforced by engaging technology firms whose advanced capabilities in data collection, management, and governance are matched by their dedication to transparent, responsible practices.
Mitigating Vulnerabilities with African Critical Minerals
The report also notes that dependence on adversarial nations for African critical minerals creates strategic exposure, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to potential supply disruptions, pricing manipulation, and other economic pressures that could undermine long-term industry stability.
At the same time, the U.S. does not possess the critical minerals it requires to build the systems and technologies essential to its defense and economic competitiveness. Compounding this challenge, the country is depleting significant stockpiles of ammunition, including interceptor missiles that require critical minerals, due to ongoing conflicts around the world.
The U.S. can mitigate these vulnerabilities by using both the corridor model abroad and the innovative data capabilities of its technology leaders at home. Already, U.S.-based firms like Woolpert, which has a significant presence on the continent and multiple offices in South Africa, see clear opportunities to play a meaningful role in these emerging corridors through their geospatial data expertise.
Data Is Vital for Future Corridor-Based Partnerships
As recommended in the Atlantic Council report, the data capabilities of the U.S.’s top technology firms can support countless use cases, including environmental monitoring, infrastructure planning, permitting, mineral exploration, community engagement, and more. When paired with an approach like the Lobito model, the U.S. can foster genuine cooperation, build trust, and help create long-term, mutually beneficial African critical mineral partnerships.
