KoBold Metals President Josh Goldman said Western mining companies can develop Africa’s critical minerals (minerals essential to strategic industries) as quickly as Chinese rivals without compromising environmental or community safeguards, provided governments streamline approvals and improve coordination among regulators. The California-based exploration firm, backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, is seeking faster approvals in Namibia and expanding lithium and copper exploration in the Democratic Republic of Congo. KoBold has invested about $2 million in Namibia since 2022 and holds more than 7,000 square kilometres of exploration licenses there, its largest land position globally by area. Goldman said a dispute involving AVZ Minerals and Chinese interests over the Manono lithium deposit has not slowed KoBold’s Congolese investment plans.