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Billionaires in the race for AVZ Africa jewel
A cutting-edge mining company that counts the ultra-rich Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos as investors could reportedly throw Australian-based AVZ Minerals a lifeline for part control over one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium deposits.
The US-based KoBold Metals recently wrote a letter to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s rulers, Bloomberg has reported, amid early-stage conversations between the US and the DRC to form a critical minerals and security partnership.
KoBold, which is known for using artificial intelligence to explore for commodities such as lithium and copper, has proposed taking over part of the Manono mining licence.
KoBold’s proposal also reportedly aims to resolve a long-drawn dispute involving AVZ Minerals, China’s Zijin Mining Group and the DRC government, according to a letter seen by Bloomberg.
The deposit “has the potential to become a large-scale, long-lived lithium mine”, KoBold chief legal officer Sandy Alexander wrote in a letter to Congo President Felix Tshisekedi’s chief-of-staff on January 21.
The company “would welcome the opportunity to develop the asset,” Mr Alexander said.
KoBold has more than 70 exploration projects around the world and is developing a copper mine in neighbouring Zambia.
The KoBold offer reportedly came days before Mr Tshisekedi proposed a minerals-for-security deal with US President Donald Trump’s administration.
DRC’s Government is battling a Rwanda-backed rebellion in its mineral-rich eastern provinces.
AVZ was developing the Manono mining project in the DRC — touted as “the biggest lithium discovery on the planet”. But in 2023 the DRC’s Government controversially split the licence and gave Zijin the northern portion.
The value of AVZ, which was listed on the ASX, was savaged by the licence split and its shares are currently delisted.
It is fighting a bitter legal battle in hopes of winning back the whole deposit.
KoBold’s plan is contingent on AVZ receiving “appropriate compensation” and agreeing to transfer all its interests in the DRC.
Adrian Rauso
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