KoBold Metals Expands AI-Driven Mining to Namibia. KoBold Metals, a technology-driven mining company backed by billionaire investors Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, is expanding its search for lithium and nickel to Namibia. The company, known for using artificial intelligence (AI) to map the Earth’s crust, aims to identify valuable deposits of copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium in new territories.
In Q3 2023, KoBold secured exploration licenses in Namibia, a country historically known for uranium mining rather than lithium or nickel extraction. With growing global demand for battery metals, Namibia’s mineral potential is attracting attention, positioning it as an emerging player in the sector. Industry data provider IndexBox highlights the country’s untapped resources, which could provide KoBold with a strategic advantage.
KoBold’s ambitions extend beyond Namibia. The company has pledged a $2 billion investment in Zambia’s Mingomba copper-cobalt mine, regarded as the highest-grade undeveloped large copper deposit in the world. With an estimated 247 million tonnes of ore containing 3.64% copper, KoBold expects to produce over 300,000 tonnes of copper annually by the mid-2030s.
Since its founding four years ago in Canada, KoBold has aggressively pursued battery metal exploration. It first gained attention after acquiring a site in northern Quebec, near Glencore’s Raglan nickel mine, where lithium deposits were also discovered. Today, the company manages a dozen exploration projects across:
- Zambia
- Zamibia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
- Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Ontario (Canada)
- Western Australia
Additionally, KoBold has joint ventures with mining giants BHP and BlueJay Mining for exploration in Greenland. The company is also conducting exploration projects in South Korea and the United States, reinforcing its global footprint in critical mineral exploration.
With its AI-driven approach and backing from influential investors, KoBold Metals is positioning itself as a key player in the future of battery metal supply, helping to meet the world’s rising demand for electric vehicle and renewable energy components.