Notice the US seems to be taking a bit of interest in Manolo. I assume they'd love to control the resource for strategic reasons, and also to foil the Chinese.
Dreaming, but if AVZ can either get a mining licence or progress the legal process to a very high level of certainly, what's to stop a consortium of western companies, led by acUS company, backed by the US Govt and including Japan, Korea and Europe, buying AVZ out? Rather than Zijin.
US$3 billion/A$A5 billion, less 25% DRC tax (I understand) means about A$1.25 per share.
US$3 billion is a lot of money, but not really for a generational strategic asset. And to keep it away from Chinese control. And, unlike if AVZ goes it alone, a consortium with that much oomph could push back on DRC corruption enough to actually get a mine up and running.