Zijin Mining to Begin Lithium Production in the DRC Amid Legal Disputes
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 country renowned as the world’s second-largest copper producer and the largest source of cobalt.
Chinese firms, including Zijin, are heavily investing in Africa’s lithium resources across nations like Mali and Zimbabwe, even as lithium prices have plunged nearly 90% since their 2022 peak.
These investments aim to secure feedstock for domestic refineries, anticipating future growth in demand from the electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage sectors.
Zijin acknowledged in September that the current supply glut may persist in the short term but expressed confidence in long-term demand growth. The company is also advancing lithium projects in China and Argentina.
Zijin, which operates copper, gold, lithium, and zinc mines across five continents, received a full mining license for the Manono project four months ago.
The deposit is described as “sizable,” with an average grade of 1.51% lithium oxide, according to a company spokesperson.
However, Perth-based AVZ has accused Congo of illegally seizing its exploration permit and awarding the northern portion to Zijin in September 2023.
Arbitration tribunals have instructed Zijin’s state-owned partner to pause development in the disputed area until legal proceedings conclude. AVZ has also faced allegations of bribery in relation to the project, which the company denies.
Zijin plans to commission the Manono processing plant in phases, initially producing lithium concentrate and sulfate for export. The company has indicated interest in additional refining at Manono once a stable power supply is secured. A Zijin subsidiary has already rehabilitated a nearby hydroelectric facility to support operations.
While Zijin has not disclosed specific output targets, prior studies by AVZ suggest the Manono project could remain profitable even at current lithium prices.
In addition to Manono, Zijin holds stakes in two major copper mines in Congo, including a 39.6% share in the massive Kamoa-Kakula complex, a joint venture with Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Efforts to obtain comments from Congo’s mines ministry and Cominiere, which owns 39% of the Manono project, were unsuccessful.
Zijin maintains that its operations are fully compliant with DRC’s legal and regulatory requirements, emphasizing its commitment to developing the project responsibly.
