It wasn't about pulling the pin and chasing other projects....it was about becoming a fucking serious mining player on the world scene on the back of Manono and then expanding from there......well.....at least that's what I thought at the time
*Fyi, Hot off the Press at Media Congo / Economie
Manono lithium project: AVZ sues Congo in Washington court over mining license
AVZ Minerals has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of having acted illegally by refusing to issue it an exploitation license for a large lithium deposit located in the south of the country.
The Perth-headquartered lithium explorer said late Friday that it had filed for arbitration with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington, DC, seeking unpaid remedies. specified on the part of the DRC, which would not have respected its own mining code.
“The company considers the conduct of the DRC to be illegal and the company, together with the plaintiffs, will take all necessary measures to protect the interests of its stakeholders,” AVZ said in a statement.
The company, which had a market capitalization of $2.75 billion, was suspended from the ASX in May 2022.
The explorer faces separate legal disputes with two of its joint venture partners in the DRC – Dathomir and Cominière – as well as a dispute with Chinese miner Zijin Mining.
In Australia, a class action is being prepared by Omni Bridgeway on the grounds that AVZ allegedly failed to disclose disputes over ownership rights to the DRC project, known as Manono, to investors in 2021.
The former lithium industry darling declined to answer earlier questions about the options it has to sell its ownership rights to the Manono project under the joint venture if it fails to secure an operating license mining.
It also declined to answer questions about when it might return to the market and what steps it has taken to obtain a mining license, as shareholder frustration mounts.
Cominière, the Congolese state mining body, reportedly notified AVZ of its intention to end their joint venture partnership to develop the Manono project in December.
However, AVZ refused to agree to the termination of the project unless ordered by the International Chamber of Commerce.
On May 5, AVZ said an ICC arbitrator had granted it an injunction to prevent Cominière from taking steps to dissolve the joint venture in DRC courts.
However, Cominière is seeking US$566 million ($843 million) in damages from AVZ for what it considers financial loss resulting from the company's alleged mismanagement and breach of the terms of the agreement. joint venture agreement.
Separately, Zijin Mining has asked the ICC to investigate a complaint against AVZ for what it claims is a non-recognition of its 15% stake in the project and is seeking US$850 million in compensation.
A hearing to determine whether Zijin is entitled to file a complaint against AVZ with the TCC is scheduled for July 3.