A worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is disrupting travel and delaying meetings tied to a US-backed critical minerals partnership aimed at loosening China's hold on DR Congo's vast copper and cobalt resources, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The outbreak has made travel to and from DR Congo increasingly difficult, with quarantine requirements and health concerns forcing officials and investors to postpone visits, a diplomat and two consultants advising on US investments said.

DR Congo is the world's top cobalt producer and second-largest copper supplier, with significant deposits of germanium, lithium, and tantalum, making it a key source of energy-transition minerals and a focus of global competition.

The United States and China have separately expanded mineral partnerships with Kinshasa to secure access to its mineral deposits.

Deadly Ebola outbreak

The outbreak, declared in mid-May, has infected 2,011 people and killed 754, according to government data.

The US embassy in Kinshasa on July 11 urged Americans not to travel to DR Congo "for any reason" because of Ebola and warned that travellers exposed to the virus could face up to 21 days of quarantine at their own expense.

A US State Department spokesperson told Reuters that Washington "has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans."

The department said in an emailed response that the US was working to contain the outbreak while advancing its minerals partnership with DR Congo, citing progress on the Lobito Corridor and Kinshasa's commitment to facilitating US investment.

Postponement of talks

A diplomatic source said the outbreak was delaying the US-DR Congo minerals partnership and that deal discussions had been postponed, declining to give details.

The source said a Washington meeting planned for last month to review US companies' interest in Congolese projects had been postponed, though discussions have continued elsewhere, including London.

The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

The Congolese government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Some investors and officials have shifted meetings to Paris and Brussels, a consultant said, adding that a planned July review of Congolese projects had been cancelled because key partners were unable to travel from the US.