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Rio Tinto Eyes Roche Dure Lithium Mine Amid DRC Talks

March 30, 2025March 30, 2025 Constance0 comment

Rio Tinto has engaged in early discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) about developing the Roche Dure deposit into a lithium mine. Roche Dure is one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium resources, making it a highly strategic asset in the global lithium market. Neither Rio Tinto nor the DRC’s Ministry of Mines has commented on the talks. Meanwhile, the DRC is also in discussions with the U.S. government over a potential minerals-for-security agreement aimed at countering a Rwanda-backed rebellion in its eastern provinces. California-based exploration company KoBold… Read More Here

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KoBold Metals Eyes Major Lithium Project in the DRC Amid Legal Dispute

March 22, 2025March 22, 2025 Constance0 comment

KoBold Metals, a mining company backed by billionaires Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has informed the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government of its interest in developing one of the world’s largest hard rock lithium deposits. This marks the first significant offer from a major U.S. mining company to invest in the central African nation, coinciding with early discussions on a potential minerals and security partnership between the two countries. KoBold, which leverages artificial intelligence to explore materials vital for the energy transition, has proposed taking over a highly sought-after mining… Read More Here

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AVZ Minerals Wins Legal Battle Over Manono Lithium Mine in DRC

March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 Constance0 comment

Australia’s AVZ Minerals has secured a legal victory against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and China’s Zijin Mining in a dispute over rights to the Manono lithium mine. The company is now in talks with U.S. investors to secure funding for the project. The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has ordered DRC’s state-owned mining company, Cominiere, to pay a €39.1 million penalty for failing to comply with previous rulings preventing it from terminating its joint venture with AVZ. AVZ initially held the permit… Read More Here

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US and DRC in Talks Over Critical Minerals Deal

March 9, 2025March 9, 2025 Constance

The United States is engaging in exploratory discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over a potential agreement that would grant the US access to the country’s critical minerals in exchange for military support. The DRC government reportedly initiated discussions two weeks ago, following an interview in which President Félix Tshisekedi stated that the Trump administration had expressed interest in the nation’s vast mineral resources. The DRC is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, accounting for over 70% of global production. The… Read More Here

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South Kivu’s Mineral Wealth Lost to Illicit Mining, Earning Under $1 Million Annually

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025 Constance

South Kivu, a province rich in copper, cobalt, lithium, and other valuable minerals, generates less than $1 million annually due to widespread illicit mining activities. This stark contrast between the province’s mineral potential and its economic output was highlighted by Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi during a recent meeting with local stakeholders. Despite its mineral wealth, South Kivu remains one of the poorest regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a situation that Governor Purusi attributes to the illegal exploitation of its resources. “The mining sector does not even generate $1… Read More Here

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Zijin Mining to Begin Lithium Production in the DRC Amid Legal Disputes

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025 Constance

China’s Zijin Mining Group Co. is set to commence lithium production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early next year, leveraging one of the world’s largest deposits of the battery metal. Zijin is ramping up development at the Manono project in southeastern Congo, despite an ongoing legal dispute with Australia’s AVZ Minerals Ltd. AVZ has initiated arbitration against the DRC government, claiming the project’s exploration license was unlawfully reassigned. The Manono project, slated to begin production in Q1 2026, will be the first operational lithium mine in Congo, a… Read More Here

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Zimbabwe to Seek 26% Stake in New Mining Projects

December 13, 2024December 13, 2024 Constance

Zimbabwe plans to acquire a 26% free-carry stake in all new mining projects and will also negotiate with existing operators to secure similar shares in established projects. Pfungwa Kunaka, Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Mines, told Bloomberg that the government aims for a 26% ownership in most major mining ventures. He added that these negotiations would involve discussions with investors already operating in the country. Kunaka did not disclose how the government would finance these acquisitions. However, the move aligns with the rising trend of resource nationalism across Africa, where nations are… Read More Here

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Rio Tinto Sells 30% Stake in Winu Copper-Gold Project to Sumitomo for $399 Million

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024 Constance

Rio Tinto Plc has agreed to sell a 30% stake in its Winu copper-gold project in Western Australia to Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. for $399 million. Under the terms of the deal, Sumitomo will pay $195 million upfront and an additional $204 million in deferred payments tied to development progress, Rio Tinto said in a statement on Wednesday. The two companies also plan to explore further partnership opportunities across copper, other base metals, and lithium. Katie Jackson, Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive of Copper, described the transaction as a “unique… Read More Here

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DRC’s Vast Mineral Wealth Faces Control and Benefit Challenges Amid Global Energy Transition

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024 Constance

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of Africa’s most mineral-rich nations, boasting vast reserves of essential resources like lithium and cobalt—key components in batteries that are critical for the global transition to renewable energy. Despite this enormous potential, the DRC struggles to exercise full control over its mineral wealth or reap significant benefits from its exploitation, largely dominated by multinational corporations such as CMOC, Glencore, and Zijin. These concerns were highlighted by Faustin Biringanine, Director General of the Mining Fund for Future Generations (FOMIN), during the panel titled… Read More Here

Lithium Mining in DRC

DRC Minister of Mines Champions Manono’s Mining Potential

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024 Constance

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, recently visited Manono in Tanganyika Province as part of efforts to advance the country’s mining sector. This visit highlights the DRC’s strategic collaboration with Manono Lithium, a leading company in lithium extraction, a vital resource for the global energy transition. Upon his arrival, the Minister was warmly welcomed by the local community. Children presented him with bouquets of flowers and released a dove, symbolizing peace and hope for a region striving toward prosperity. A key moment of the visit… Read More Here