I know I have posted the following information before but I think it’s important to keep this information front and centre in the minds of the politicians and people of the DRC as we know that corrupt Chinese companies like Zigin won’t stop their campaign to try and usurp AVZ and all we have done on the Dathcom project over the last six to seven years.
What I didn’t previously mention is some of the other work that AVZ has carried out including:
Securing a renewable 25-year lease on a 12 square kilometre industrial site for logistics activities related to hosting an intermodal staging station which forms a vital part of AVZ’s logistics infrastructure plan to export finished products to global markets, using the ports of Lobito in Angola and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
The dedicated logistics arm for the project is responsible for the commercial and operational management of Manono’s logistics requirements, including road haulage, rail and port services and infrastructure maintenance.
The industrial site agreement was an important milestone which was met with the approval of the local community including environmental and social impact assessments for rehabilitation of the road from Manono, the proposed new ferry crossing and materials handling sites, and the depot for finished products being exported to global markets.
Meetings were held with the caretaker governor of Haut-Lomami and his advisors to discuss the project and they were excited by the many benefits this collaboration would bring to the town, such as improvements to provincial infrastructure and employment opportunities for locals. The company had also sat down with local indigenous chiefs to discuss their people’s specific needs and involvement in the project.
Over the last 6 years in the DRC, AVZ Minerals has carried out Soil Sampling, Field Mapping, Consulting, Drilling, Metallurgical Testing, Completing a FEED Study, Environmental Study and Impact Assessment Reports including Groundwater Management, a 160 page Definitive Feasibility Study, a SEZ Agreement, Tendering for Mining Infrastructure, Legally Obtaining and Paying For an Increased Share of Dathcom, Obtaining Several Offtake Agreements for both Lithium and Tin, Raising Capital, Negotiating Funding with Pan African DFI’s and a Funding and Offtake Agreement with CATH, Presenting at the Battery Minerals Conference, Legally Fulfilling all Requirements to Obtain the Mining License, Including Receiving the Ministerial Decree to Award the Mining License and producing an 85 page Sustainability Report, Spending millions of dollars and Supporting the Local Community….
AVZ Minerals 85 page Sustainability Report made the following commitments to the DRC Government and people
1. Environmental and Social Governance (ESG)
2. Commitment to socio - economic benefits
3. Preserving environmental values
4. Providing a transparent and ethical supply chain
5. Ending poverty
6. Improving health and education
7. Reducing inequality
8. Contributing to economic growth
9. Minimising greenhouse gas emissions
10. Preserving biodiversity
11. Restoring the Mpiana Mwanga Power Plant
12. Supplying energy to local communities
13. Making a positive contribution to the lives of people in the region
14. Including direct and indirect employment opportunities
15. Leaving a positive legacy for future generations
16. Maintaining a strong sense of loyalty
