strategic minerals

Colombia's new mining law, filed in Congress on 1 October 2025, reserves strategic minerals for state-owned companies and bans mining in environmentally protected areas like páramos, national parks, and Ramsar wetlands. The law requires environmental licensing from the exploration phase and has raised concerns about threatening foreign investment.

DR Congo's government is considering changes to its mining laws, which aim to increase state control over strategic minerals, prompting concerns from investors about regulatory uncertainty and potential deterrence of investment. Mining companies have warned that repeated shifts in regulations could harm long-term planning and attractability.

China is expanding its strategic mineral toolkit by establishing a new investment firm to enhance its resources in strategic minerals.

Kenya is close to a deal with the US to process its rare earths and strategic minerals at home, as announced by President Ruto at the G7 summit. The agreement aims to enable Kenya to process these critical minerals domestically.