La société civile de Manono, dans la province du Tanganyika, est préoccupé par la tension qui persiste entre AVZ Minerals et Cominière SA....
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Civil society in Manono, Tanganyika province, is concerned about the ongoing tension between AVZ Minerals and Cominière SA. For nearly a year, the violins were no longer in agreement between these two partner companies in the exploitation of Lithium in Manono. They accused each other of opacity. As a result, the Minister of Mines cancelled the Lithium P 13259 operating licence a few months ago. However, it was already issued to Dathcom, a joint venture of Cominière, a state-owned company, and AVZ Minerals, a company listed on the Australian stock exchange. On Wednesday, civil society brought delegates from two partners around a table for a dialogue.
Whether it's civil society organizations in Manono or churches, all are worried. The conflict between the two partner companies is a blockage for Manono's development. Indeed, in May 2022, the Minister of Mines, Mrs. Antoinette N'samba Kalambay signed the operating permit of Dathcom Mining SA for the exploitation of Manono's Lithium. But since then, the exploitation of this strategic mineral has still not started in Manono.
Manono Civil Society Mediation
In view of this situation, civil society in Manono decided to play the role of mediator in this conflict. Father Moïse Kiluba, president of this citizen structure, was accompanied in this process by Monsignor Vincent de Paul, Bishop of Manono. Also, the Methodist Church has delegated Monsignor Guy Mande. After meetings on Wednesday, civil society and the two religious leaders gathered in Lubumbashi delegates from both parties.
The general manager a.i. of Cominière Célestin Kibeya, staying in Kinshasa, took part by videoconference. As for AVZ Minerals, three delegates also participated in the meeting by videoconference, including the representative in the DRC Baltazar Tshiseke. The two bishops recommended that Cominière and AVZ Minerals engage in dialogue. This will make it possible to restart the process of rehabilitating the operating permit.
According to Father Moïse Kiluba of civil society, the delegates of the two companies have made the commitment to organize the general assembly of the company Dathcom SA. However, this meeting will be preceded by other meetings at the level of each company. As a result, civil society in Manono welcomes this progress.
Reasons for the dispute
As a reminder, several facts are at the root of the dispute between Cominière and AVZ Mineral. Among the reasons, civil society organizations in the DRC talk about the turmoil around the acquisition of shares in the Dathcom joint venture. Zijin, a Chinese company, for example, bought a 15% stake in Cominière. For these organizations, this takeover took place "in violation of the laws of the Republic".
For its part, Cominière accuses its partner AVZ of opacity. She cites, for example, the signature between former Minister of Water Resources and Electricity Eustache Muhanzi and AVZ POWER. This memorandum of understanding concerns the rehabilitation of the Mpyana Mwanga I and II dam located in the territory of Manono. For the state-owned company Cominière, this agreement is illegal.
In Manono, the community hopes that the two partners will transcend their difference. To this end, they will be able to give priority to the development of this entity.
Manono's Lithium is a 6.6 million tonne deposit. Thanks to this reserve, the DRC should rank 2nd among the countries holding this resource, just after Chile (7 million tons of reserve).
La Guardia / MCP magazine, via mediacongo.net