Orion Critical Mineral Signs MoU with Glencore to Acquire 40% Stake in DRC Copper Mines

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Written by Amir Richani for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land Texas)

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Summary

The U.S. government seeks to secure a supply of critical minerals through the Orion-Glencore MoU in the DRC.

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New Acquisition

Orion Critical Mineral Consortium and Glencore announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Orion to acquire 40% of Glencore's interest in the Mutanda Mining and Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The transaction has an approximate value of US$9 billion.

As part of the agreement, Orion will be able to appoint non-executive directors and direct sales of its production to buyers. Orion can also help develop opportunities to expand Mutanda and Kamoto's production. The assets would continue to be managed by Glencore.

"This proposed transaction is exactly what Orion CMC was established to achieve--securing long-life, high-quality production of critical minerals while supporting resilient supply chains for the United States and its allies," said Oskar Lewnowski, founder and chief executive officer of Orion.

The KCC comprises two open-pit mines, one underground mine, the Kamoto concentrator and the Luilu refinery, while Mutanda Mining includes the Mutanda copper-cobalt mine and concentrator. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Plant Database can click here for the related plant profiles.

Throughout 2025, Mutanda recorded copper production of 59,100 tons and cobalt production of 10,600 tons. This represented a 74% and 34% year-on-year increase, respectively. The higher volume was the result of the asset's ramp-up.

Meanwhile, the Kamoto mine produced 188,700 tons of copper in 2025, just 1% below the previous year, while cobalt volumes totalled 22,900 tons, a 16% yearly drop. The drop was due to lower grades from stockpiles and a focus in copper production.

Orion Critical Mineral is owned by Orion Resource Partners. In 2025, it received US$1.8 billion in initial capital commitments from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). As part of that, Orion would provide DFC with investment opportunities in critical mineral projects to guarantee U.S. supply and compete with international players, such as China.

The deal with Glencore is one of those opportunities. Orion Resource Partners invests in multiple commodities, ranging from copper and nickel to ammonia and fertilizers.

"This proposed transaction between Glencore and the U.S.-backed Orion Critical Minerals Consortium reflects the core objectives of the U.S.-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement by encouraging greater U.S. investment in the DRC's mining sector and promoting secure, reliable, and mutually beneficial flows of critical minerals between our two countries," said U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

Glencore-Rio Tinto Agreement

In January, Rio Tinto and Glencore announced preliminary discussions about a possible combination of some or all of their businesses. The deadline for Rio Tinto to make a firm intention to Glencore expires on February 5.

The merger would create one of the world's largest mining companies, ranked by copper and iron ore production.

Key Takeaways

• The MoU includes investments of roughly US$9 billion.
• The mines produced 247,000 tons of copper in 2025.
• The Glencore-Rio Tinto agreement deadline expires on February 5.

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About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).