KoBold Metals’ Kurt House: “The next world-class copper discovery could be made between Zambia and the DRC”
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming mineral exploration, and KoBold Metals is positioning itself at the forefront of this revolution.
Speaking to Mining & Business, KoBold Metals co-founder and CEO Kurt House shared how the company is combining advanced data science, machine learning and cutting-edge geological technologies to accelerate the discovery of critical mineral deposits.
A company built on science
House believes mineral exploration is fundamentally an information challenge rather than a geological one.
According to him, valuable geological information already exists but remains fragmented across multiple datasets collected over decades.
KoBold’s mission is to integrate this information using artificial intelligence to predict where economically viable mineral deposits are most likely to be found before drilling begins.
AI changing the exploration model
The company develops predictive machine-learning models using geological, geochemical and geophysical data.
Its exploration toolkit combines:
- High-resolution airborne LiDAR;
- Laser mapping technologies;
- Advanced geochemical sampling;
- GPS-guided field programs;
- Artificial intelligence to prioritize drilling targets.
Zambia validates the approach
KoBold’s flagship project is located in Zambia, where the company has identified what Kurt House describes as one of the world’s highest-quality copper deposits in terms of grade, scale and mineralogy.
The project has already entered the construction phase and is expected to begin production in the coming years.
Why the DRC matters
For House, the Democratic Republic of Congo represents one of the world’s greatest copper opportunities.
He notes that geology ignores political borders, making the Copperbelt a continuous mineral province stretching across Zambia and the DRC.
KoBold currently holds around fourteen exploration licences in the DRC and considers the country a strategic priority for future discoveries.
Opportunities outweigh challenges
Operating in the DRC still presents challenges, including infrastructure, logistics, data availability, taxation and permitting.
However, House argues that the country’s extraordinary geological potential more than offsets these constraints.
He also praised the gradual improvements in the Congolese regulatory environment and highlighted the company’s constructive engagement with local institutions.
Investing in local talent
KoBold emphasizes the development of a strong Congolese workforce, prioritizing local recruitment, language skills and close collaboration with local communities throughout its exploration activities.
A long-term commitment
House concluded the interview with a clear message to Congolese authorities:
“We are here, we are ready to invest seriously in the Congo, and we want to do it in a way that benefits the country.”
As global demand for copper continues to surge, driven by artificial intelligence, data centres, electric vehicles, batteries and the energy transition, KoBold Metals sees the DRC as a cornerstone of its long-term exploration strategy.
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