AVZ Discussion 2022

[CHB]

I think the DRC-Kobold deal was to signal to other parties "see the Government says we get it"... if the government is not hospitable like we have seen with AVZ, they can stall and lock you out requiring serious litigation (10B USD lost rev and damage so far isn't it?). The question is will the government accept snacks from anyone or only kobold.

That's the thing though. Whoever buys it will be buying it knowing that fact.

For instance if China wants to buy it to block the Western world from having it...

Or if someone wants to buy it and come to some other agreement with KoBold to develop

Becomes their problem

 

[Mickyb64]

Does anyone have access to this article in the Australian?

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/avz-and-bezosbacked-miner-kobold-metals-in-standoff-over-deal-the-white-house-wants-done/news-story/29f38b52168897fdf990104e6852a2c8?amp&nk=30abd99c44fdf555b6942fd3a6bd797c-1753137411

Screenshots were posted several pages back. Nothing new in the article.

 

[SilentOne]

https://x.com/Twinkle887788/status/1947142279019508118

 

[Mouthpiecenomnom]

Im keen to learn more about this AI exploration, after all the years I did drilling and seismic exploration for BHP/BMA and few other parties, never once would have I thought you could do AI exploration. Alien technology or what?!

Well. It's all a bit gimmicky and niche at this stage. Their (kobold) first step as you see is to digitise the Congo geological service files. They need to do this because the ai is pretty fucking useless without huge data sets.

 

[cruiser51]

Im keen to learn more about this AI exploration, after all the years I did drilling and seismic exploration for BHP/BMA and few other parties, never once would have I thought you could do AI exploration. Alien technology or what?!

Felix believes Kobold.

Felix, according to Paul Kagami, delivered pizzas as well.
So what is new?

Will be interesting to see what happens August 1 2025.

Will it be 'Sorry boys, you are too fucking late', Zijin strikes again after being feverishly active under Felix desk, under the cover of darkness.

With all this drama taking place, the Chinese are awfully quiet.
Don't forget they are the little silent achievers.

While 2 dogs fight for a bone, the 3rd pisses himself laughing.

 

[Panther22]

I am interested in there maybe other bidders and not just Kobold but haven't we got to this point because of the "Minerals for Security" arrangement, preventing Chinese exclusivity of minerals and the Peace Deal brokered by the USA? If a non US company outbids Kobold and AVZ accept won't everything else fall in a heap? And would DRC give approval thereby shafting the US who would remove their security promises and Felix would be risking M23 further entering the DRC without foreign help?
If that happens l think we would be destined for many years in the Courts.
Kobold need to step up, increase their offer because they will be sitting on truck loads of money, with USA Government and Forces backing. Felix rids himself of M23, Chinese don't get to control Lithium supply and prices and us Shareholders can get back to sleeping at night.

I applaud Nigel and BOD for keeping us breathing.

Just wish all parties would do what l used to do in conflict situation, get everyone in a room and thrash it out until it is done. No one leaves until there is an agreement then all parties can move on. There HAS TO BE an end date to this saga. Some are going to win, some will get burnt but overall there is a WIN, WIN, WIN in the room and we all get on with out lives.

 

[cruiser51]

I am interested in there maybe other bidders and not just Kobold but haven't we got to this point because of the "Minerals for Security" arrangement, preventing Chinese exclusivity of minerals and the Peace Deal brokered by the USA? If a non US company outbids Kobold and AVZ accept won't everything else fall in a heap? And would DRC give approval thereby shafting the US who would remove their security promises and Felix would be risking M23 further entering the DRC without foreign help?
If that happens l think we would be destined for many years in the Courts.
Kobold need to step up, increase their offer because they will be sitting on truck loads of money, with USA Government and Forces backing. Felix rids himself of M23, Chinese don't get to control Lithium supply and prices and us Shareholders can get back to sleeping at night.

I applaud Nigel and BOD for keeping us breathing.

Just wish all parties would do what l used to do in conflict situation, get everyone in a room and thrash it out until it is done. No one leaves until there is an agreement then all parties can move on. There HAS TO BE an end date to this saga. Some are going to win, some will get burnt but overall there is a WIN, WIN, WIN in the room and we all get on with out lives.

There are more minerals than lithium in the DRC, it is not only Kobold Metals (which obvious is not able to raise sufficient funds), trying to cut a deal in the DRC.

 

[mikejoho]

IMHO, this is all just ‘Negotiation 101’. Kobold’s posturing and territorial pissing is to low ball:-

• Get AVZ to sign a HoA, with the appearance that they have exclusive negotiating rights.
  • (AVZ responded with the non-binding statement)
• Create the appearance of advanced talks / due diligence, as the only legitimate purchaser to ward off the other interested parties and buy time by getting the ICSID to be put on hold.
  • (AVZ responded with the resumption of ICSID )
• By signing the deal with the DRC, say to AVZ well, we can be the only purchaser.
  • (AVZ advised the ICSID of the breach of P03).

For what it is worth, I think Kobold and AVZ are in the game using all the levers they can get their hands on. Its not personal and not unhealthy. I still think Kobold will ultimately purchase, but will pay more than they thought they might.

 

[LzrTr8dr]

Unfortunately, I cannot see KoBold increasing its bid, or negotiating with AVZ at the moment.

On 17 July 2025, it inked a deal with the DRC for a range of items, including the acquisition and exploitation of the southern part of Manono (RD), and exploration rights to large swathes of prospective territory. It signed this agreement with the DRC, because it was clearly getting a good commercial deal...way more than just RD alone. Doubtless, the deal also came with a number of sweeteners and cost-offsets for KoBold, which AVZ could not possibly counter.

As we are all well aware, the DRC refuses AVZ a seat at the negotiating table because it believes that AVZ no longer has any rights over Manono (PR13359). They were all corruptly extinguished through a range of govt decisions stretching back to Feb 2022 when the MoM cancelled AVZ's mining rights. The restoration of these rights is being fought via ICC and ICSID arbitrations.

Notwithstanding the ongoing ICC and ICSID arbitrations, unfortunately the DRC holds all the regulatory, and licencing cards. It clearly has the ability to determine the success or otherwise of any venture undertaken by KoBold or anybody else in the DRC. While distasteful and disappointing, it makes commercial sense for KoBold to engage with the DRC, rather than AVZ.

Cheers
F

Fair points, but KoBold can’t simply ignore the corrupt extinguishment of PR13359. The company is highly exposed to international law, it risks reputational damage and legal complications by engaging with assets still under ICC and ICSID dispute. It may have cut a good deal with the DRC, but that doesn't erase the risk involved with acting unlawfully on an international stage, or the fact that PR13359 was corruptly dissipated. Just my 2c

 

[BEISHA]

https://www.mining.com/avz-slams-congo-kobold-deal-over-disputed-lithium-project/
View attachment 88735

 

[TLH]

Unfortunately, I cannot see KoBold increasing its bid, or negotiating with AVZ at the moment.

On 17 July 2025, it inked a deal with the DRC for a range of items, including the acquisition and exploitation of the southern part of Manono (RD), and exploration rights to large swathes of prospective territory. It signed this agreement with the DRC, because it was clearly getting a good commercial deal...way more than just RD alone. Doubtless, the deal also came with a number of sweeteners and cost-offsets for KoBold, which AVZ could not possibly counter.

As we are all well aware, the DRC refuses AVZ a seat at the negotiating table because it believes that AVZ no longer has any rights over Manono (PR13359). They were all corruptly extinguished through a range of govt decisions stretching back to Feb 2022 when the MoM cancelled AVZ's mining rights. The restoration of these rights is being fought via ICC and ICSID arbitrations.

Notwithstanding the ongoing ICC and ICSID arbitrations, unfortunately the DRC holds all the regulatory, and licencing cards. It clearly has the ability to determine the success or otherwise of any venture undertaken by KoBold or anybody else in the DRC. While distasteful and disappointing, it makes commercial sense for KoBold to engage with the DRC, rather than AVZ.

Cheers
F

As the ICC and ICSID have already made significant rulings which lean favor of AVZ it would send a damaging signal to investors and governments about Kobold’s/U.S.A's approach to international law. Stay positive as there is much we don't know- Kobold need an ethical deal to ensure their legitimacy of their involvement in the project.

 

[BEISHA]

View attachment 88743
View attachment 88744

Why on earth would Kobold do large scale exploration on RD ?

AVZ defined it aleady, their core data is all that is required , its a pretty simple process, get your bulldozer out DSO style.

Anyway, i agree with @Dave Evans , i am getting the "ICK " feeling regards to KOBOLD, assuming the above two articles are correct.

Just another scavenger looking to prey on AVZ good work and long term suffering share holders.

 

[wombat74]

• Get AVZ to sign a HoA, with the appearance that they have exclusive negotiating rights.
  • (AVZ responded with the non-binding statement)
• Create the appearance of advanced talks / due diligence, as the only legitimate purchaser to ward off the other interested parties and buy time by getting the ICSID to be put on hold.
  • (AVZ responded with the resumption of ICSID )
• By signing the deal with the DRC, say to AVZ well, we can be the only purchaser.
  • (AVZ advised the ICSID of the breach of P03).

For what it is worth, I think Kobold and AVZ are in the game using all the levers they can get their hands on. Its not personal and not unhealthy. I still think Kobold will ultimately purchase, but will pay more than they thought they might.

Yep .Once they realize AVZ would rather Kobold eat sh1t and die before accepting a lowball , they will have to up their offer. Maybe Kobold can screw a JV partner for some coin .

 

[wombat74]

As the ICC and ICSID have already made significant rulings which lean favor of AVZ it would send a damaging signal to investors and governments about Kobold’s/U.S.A's approach to international law. Stay positive as there is much we don't know- Kobold need an ethical deal to ensure their legitimacy of their involvement in the project.

Kobold also need to avoid being sued by AVZ for $10Bil usd .

 

[RHyNO]

https://www.mining.com/avz-slams-congo-kobold-deal-over-disputed-lithium-project/
View attachment 88735

“It already operates about 60 projects globally.”
Any one know where these are? (Asian blink182 WTF Meme)

 

[Flight996]

After re-reading the publicly available information available on the DRC-KoBold agreement (17 July 2025), I think my previous post was a bit off the mark, so I deleted it.

The DRC-KoBold agreement reads more like an MOU than an agreement, particularly around KoBold being the DRC's preferred partner, and the Resolution of Legal Disputes, where the agreement commits the DRC government to support KoBold’s efforts to purchase and develop the Manono site, including resolving ongoing legal disputes that have prevented progress—particularly those involving Australian company AVZ Minerals.

This is not a bad as I originally thought, because it does not make any binding commitments that further disadvantage AVZ Minerals.

I also find it ironic that the DRC will assist in the resolution of the ongoing legal disputes, despite it being the root cause of all this shitfuckery in the first place. Fancy the DRC clowns assisting in the resolution of their own mess...what could possibly go wrong.

Cheers
F

 

[KentCStrait]

KoBold isn’t a mining company—it’s a software company. Their core product is a proprietary platform that aggregates geological data (old drill logs, satellite imagery, geochemical surveys, etc.) and feeds it into LLMs to predict subsurface mineralization.

They then send out field teams based on those predictions to run geophysical surveys, soil sampling, and drilling. That data gets looped back into the system to refine the model. It’s basically a machine-learning feedback loop for exploration.

The long game is to train their platform on traditional resource data so that once global warming melts away the ice caps, they can go nuts exploiting newly exposed ground. Seriously. All this talk of ethics and the environment is bullshit. They are looking to capitalise on global warming.

In the meantime, they’re burning through their venture capital. Their claim that they can “rapidly deploy” $1 billion into Manono is highly questionable, especially when they haven’t even paid AVZ yet. To me, it looks like they’re trying to leverage Manono not to mine—but to juice their credibility and next funding round.

All that said I don't really care if they can pay us. But I'm skeptical they have the money do it.

 

[M.Bison]

Given CATL are a majority shareholder, I'd be surprised if they haven't thrown in an offer. At least in some roundabout way, or perhaps even encouraged Ganfeng or the likes to lob in a bid. They aren't going to allow a huge asset to slip through their fingers for pennies.
As we all know, it only takes 2 bidders to make an auction.
I see the situation as follows:

1. Kobold offer in the box seat given peace for minerals deal with USA. Not guaranteed and far from the only large asset that the Americans would be interested in. USA wont let minerals for peace deal fall apart over Manono.
2. CATL/Ganfeng/zijin as potential counter offer.
3. Kobold to eventually stump up with enough to make BOD & CATL happy.
4. I never think about the DRC again

 

[Hudnut]

Why on earth would Kobold do large scale exploration on RD ?

AVZ defined it aleady, their core data is all that is required , its a pretty simple process, get your bulldozer out DSO style.

Anyway, i agree with @Dave Evans , i am getting the "ICK " feeling regards to KOBOLD, assuming the above two articles are correct.

Just another scavenger looking to prey on AVZ good work and long term suffering share holders.

I've been suss on Kobold since the bastards were caught touring our core samples with Celestin without asking us.

IMO they are covering their bases with the GDRC making sure they are the only game in town, and I'm still not convinced they won't come up with a way to screw us in cahoots with Felix.

I don't care how dodgy they are though, as long as we get our cash. After that Kobold and Felix can go jump.

 

[dollarbills]

I still think Kobold will not go this alone and are mainly working the background deals with DRC based on the US minerals for security deal. They will need a miner to bring this to production. And a down stream processor. So I am expecting a JV announcement of Kobold/Rio/CATH. CATH/CATL will be required to provide processing expertise even though they are Chinese. No US company will be able to do this on their own in the near term.