AVZ Wins Legal Battle Over Congo Lithium Project, but it’s not Over yet
After years of frustrating legal battles and suspended trading,
AVZ Minerals (ASX: AVZ) shareholders finally received a major boost this week.
For those unfamiliar with the AVZ story, strap in. This is one of the longest-running sagas in ASX history.
AVZ Minerals discovered what turned out to be the world’s biggest hard rock lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Manono project was once valued at billions, with major partners lined up and financing secured. Then everything fell apart.
Permits were withheld, partners disputed ownership, and eventually the DRC awarded the mining licence to a Chinese company – a move AVZ argues was unlawful. Shareholders have been trapped for years, unable to trade their stock.
This week, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal has
ruled in favour of AVZ’s subsidiary, confirming its legal acquisition of an additional 10% stake in Dathcom Mining SA under the 2020 share purchase agreement.
This brings AVZ’s legal holding in the world-class Manono lithium and tin project to at least 70%.
The tribunal also dismissed all claims from Dathomir Mining Resources, including attempts to nullify the transaction and seek additional compensation.
This decision strongly supports AVZ’s long-standing position and provides a clearer path forward to regain control over its Congolese asset, and potential do a deal with the likes of the Bill Gates-backed
Kobold metals to exit Manono.
But just as things were looking up, there was another legal curveball. AVZ
got hit with a writ from Locke Capital LLC in WA’s Supreme Court, claiming owed fees totalling US$1.2 million. While AVZ said it will defend itself against the new claim, it just goes to show that nothing’s ever simple in this long-running saga.
For shareholders, many of whom have been trapped for over three years without any ability to trade on market, this week’s arbitration victory is a big step forward. Here’s hoping it leads to some kind of resolution for everyone involved.