Belgium opens up Congo archives amid global minerals race

Belgium is opening historical archives packed with geological surveys and field notes from colonial Congo — centuries of documentation on the region's mineral deposits. The timing is significant: nations are racing to secure critical minerals for batteries, semiconductors, and renewable energy, and these records have become strategically valuable. According to RFI, the Belgian government is working to make the collection accessible, turning colonial-era maps and field notes into modern tools for understanding the global scramble for resources.

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