Le chinois Zijin Mining devrait commencer l’exploitation du gisement de lithium de Manono en 2026. Or, la propriété de ce projet situé en RDC fait
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More reporting on the AVZ CATH deal.
In the DRC, the battle for Manono lithium also pits Chinese groups against each other
The Chinese Zijin Mining is expected to begin mining the Manono lithium deposit in 2026.
However, ownership of this project located in the DRC is the subject of a dispute with the Australian AVZ, which can count, more than ever, on the support of another Chinese company. 
In the battle opposing the Chinese Zijin Mining for control of the Manono project, the Australian AVZ now benefits from the active support of another Chinese group, Suzhou CATH Energy Technologies.
AVZ announced on Wednesday, January 8, that it had obtained a $20 million facility from CATH to finance certain company expenses.
This new agreement, consolidating a partnership between the two parties in force since 2021, comes the day after another development concerning Manono.
According to Bloomberg, which relayed statements from the company in an email exchange on November 7, Zijin plans to put the lithium deposit into production in 2026.
This is despite the disputes surrounding the mining permit granted by the DRC.
By remaining alongside AVZ, CATH intends to eventually secure 100% of Manono's lithium production.
The Chinese company will thus have the right to purchase all of Manono's production for five years, or until AVZ's expenses that it has facilitated are reimbursed.
Subject to obtaining the mining rights on Manono, CATH will also have the possibility of acquiring an indirect 30.5% stake in the project by paying $259.25 million to AVZ.
In its press release of January 8, AVZ did not indicate when it hopes to regain control of the Manono project, nor did it comment on recent developments regarding Zijin’s production start-up in 2026.
It should be recalled that the Australian company has initiated various legal proceedings in recent years to contest its eviction from the Manono project, but the outcome of these initiatives remains uncertain.
In any case, the interest of investors, both Chinese and Western, in the Manono project demonstrates the potential of this deposit, which could position the DRC as one of the main lithium producers in Africa.
According to a previous estimate by AVZ, the Manono deposit would host at least 400 million tonnes of mineral resources grading 1.65% lithium.
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