Lithium - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Zimbabwe Lithium Miners Urge Delay of Export Tax Until Refining Plants Are Operational 1

Lithium producers in Zimbabwe are calling on the government to postpone a proposed 5% export tax on lithium concentrate until domestic refining facilities are fully operational. The Zimbabwe Lithium Exporters (ZLE), an industry body that includes major players like Chengxin Lithium Group, has formally requested the deferral from the Ministries of Mines and Finance. The group is asking for a two-and-a-half-year grace period, allowing time for the construction and commissioning of plants that will produce higher-value lithium sulfate, expected to be completed by 2027. Zimbabwe has rapidly become a key… Read More Here

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KoBold Seeks Lithium Stake in DRC’s Manono Amid Legal Dispute and Geopolitical Shifts

May 9, 2025May 9, 2025 Constance

KoBold Metals, a U.S.-based mining company backed by prominent investors including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, is intensifying efforts to secure rights to the Manono lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—a site widely regarded as a potential world-class lithium mine. A January 2024 estimate suggests Manono holds 669 million tonnes of resources with an average grade of 1.61% lithium. On May 6, 2025, KoBold and Australia’s AVZ Minerals issued a joint statement titled Developing Manono for Peace and Prosperity, signed by their CEOs, Kurt House and Nigel… Read More Here

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Belgium Signals Stronger Role in DRC’s Critical Minerals Sector

April 30, 2025April 30, 2025 Constance

Belgium is ready to deepen its involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) critical minerals sector, according to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who is currently visiting the Central African country as it seeks to diversify its investment partnerships. The DRC holds some of the world’s largest reserves of copper, cobalt, lithium, and uranium. However, persistent instability and insecurity—particularly in the east—have long hindered the scale of foreign investment required to fully develop the sector’s potential. Amid growing interest from global powers, Kinshasa is actively looking to attract new… Read More Here

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Premier African Minerals Signs LOI with Glencore for Zulu Lithium Concentrate

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 Constance

Premier African Minerals (Premier) has signed a non-binding Letter of Interest (LOI) with Glencore International regarding the potential sale of spodumene concentrate from its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Zimbabwe. The LOI outlines preliminary terms for a future binding agreement, contingent on the Zulu Project meeting specific production standards, particularly in grade and volume. Premier aims to finalise the binding agreement within the next three months, with support from Canmax Technologies. Located approximately 80 km from Bulawayo, the Zulu Project is one of Zimbabwe’s largest undeveloped lithium-bearing pegmatites, covering… Read More Here

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Andrada Confirms High-Grade Lithium, Tin, and Tantalum at Uis Project in Namibia

April 13, 2025April 13, 2025 Constance

Aim-listed Andrada Mining has announced encouraging initial drill results from 13 polymetallic pegmatites at its Uis mining licence in Namibia, reinforcing the scale and quality of mineralisation at the project, according to CEO Anthony Viljoen. The pegmatites, located within a 3 km radius of the existing Uis tin mine processing plant, form part of a broader swarm of approximately 180 mineralised pegmatites identified within the licence area. The current drilling campaign aims to validate historical data and evaluate the by-product potential of these previously mined areas. The programme includes 44… Read More Here

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Rio Tinto Eyes Roche Dure Lithium Mine Amid DRC Talks

March 30, 2025March 30, 2025 Constance

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 Constance

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 Constance

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