Have to agree with gbgirl, the appetite to explore in the DRC could well be strongly reduced, if the DRC continues with the bullshit of withholding AVZ an exploitation permit and removing AVZ from the license.
Zijin finds it cheaper not to explore and take that risk, it prefers to let others do the hard work, prove up a resource and if a massive opportunity, move in and steal in stead.
Zijin has the runs on the board to proof that point.
Why the hell would you go through the cost and effort to explore, if there is no need?
In the DRC a couple of brownbags will do the exploration for you!
This is the message the DRC government is signalling to the world.
Jules A seems to be one of the very few who realises this and who says what happened is illegal.
I wonder how and when Jules A report will be used.
When does Felix wake up and let go of the Chinese teat.
When does Felix understand that Chinese win-win means, we win and you don't win?
He only has to look in every place the Chinese operate.
Look in Africa, where the majority of the African countries, that accepted Chinese 'help' and are now handcuffed, like a slave, to its Chinese masters by massive financial debts. With the result 'you do as I want you to do'.
One step to the left means one step to the left, don't fukkin forget that!
Sometimes Xi calls his underlings up to Beijing to simply reinforce that principle.
The Chinese don't explore. They prefer to steal.
As the French say 'l'histoire se répète'.
The DRC doesn't have a great track record of doing their own exploration.
Why?
It beats me, that they wish to continue to dig through dirt with their hands.
In todays world there is no need to work with these middle age methods, with a result of premature death, child labour and a moon landscape after the artisanal miners are finished with their job.
Just imagine, if in Western Australia, iron ore would be mined the way the artisanal miners mine cobalt in Kolwezi, or any other mineral in the DRC, that is if they are not chased away by their Chinese masters.
One would think Felix would build schools and educate geologists and mining engineers in stead of flying with his entourage in his private jet to Beijing with his cap in hand asking for more money to be told to be a good boy and fuck off.
One just has to shake one's head