AVZ Discussion 2022
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US confirms its critical minerals agenda as fallen miner AVZ chases an improbable African prize
Brad Thompson
The US wants to boost “responsible and transparent” development of critical minerals assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a stricken Australian explorer, AVZ Minerals, has fought to regain control of a lithium deposit it claims was unlawfully seized by a Chinese company.
The Trump administration is set to intervene on behalf of AVZ to ensure the lion’s share of the Manono lithium project stays out of Chinese hands, The Australian revealed on Wednesday, and may also wade into a separate dispute over copper and cobalt mines owned by Chemaf Resources.
The White House is open to striking a critical minerals pact with the DRC in return for security in a move that risks antagonising China, given the extent of its interests in the resource-rich central African economy.
DRC president Felix Tshisekedi hopes to broker a deal with the US to resolve a conflict with Rwandan-backed M23 rebels.
In response to questions from The Australian, the US State Department acknowledged the DRC was endowed with a big share of the world’s critical minerals required for advanced technologies in defence and electrification.
“The US is open to discussing partnerships in this sector that are aligned with the Trump administration’s America First Agenda under the Unleashing American Energy executive order,” a State Department spokesman said.
“The US has and continues to work with our DRC partners to boost US private sector investment in the DRC to develop mining resources in a responsible and transparent manner that contributes to the strength and prosperity of both the DRC and the US.
“Partnerships with US companies will strengthen both US and DRC economies, create higher-skilled jobs and integrate the country into regional and global value chains.”
The US is likely to insist that at least the southern part of the disputed Manono project is returned to AVZ on the understanding the embattled company will then sell the asset to a US entity.
Any US intervention is geopolitically sensitive given one of China’s biggest miners, Zijin, is developing the project and on track for first production of lithium early next year.
US authorities consider Zijin a state-controlled company and are understood to favour allowing it to keep control of the northern part of Manono in an attempt to minimise the backlash from China.
AVZ maintains it has legal rights to all of Manono even though the DRC has split the licence and Zijin has forged ahead in the north. The Australian company is pursuing its claim before the International Court of Arbitration and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, but previous rulings in its favour have been ignored.
Meanwhile, Australian Federal Police raided the company’s offices in December investigating alleged bribery, which AVZ denies.
The White House wants any sale of the Manono asset to not be complicated by AVZ’s residual links to China’s CATL, the world’s biggest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, which in January provided $US20m in funding to AVZ.
AVZ was delisted from the ASX in 2024 after its shares were suspended in May 2022.
In the same month, the US effectively blackballed CATL when the Department of the Defence designated it as a “Chinese military company”. CATL is fighting this declaration and denies ever engaging in any military-related business or activities.
AVZ was once valued at $4.6bn but has no listed presence after it lost control of what it touted as the world’s biggest lithium deposit. It had 21,000 shareholders.
The US may also intercede in the future of DRC company Chemaf, to stop China’s Norinco extending its interests in copper and cobalt mines. DRC state-owned miner Gecamines has offered to buy Chemaf to stop Norinco. Norinco already owns the Comika and Lamikal mines in the DRC in partnership with Gecamines, but has been sanctioned by the US since 2021.
DRC businessman and physicist Jean Bele said his home country was walking a tightrope between two superpowers but needed to get maximum value from its critical minerals assets.
Mr Bele said he expected US investment in bring higher standards and greater benefits to the economy, and criticised the actions of Chinese miners.
“US investment require the respect of the environment, of human rights, and the many other things. Chinese investment is not doing that now,” he said. “US investment will help to make sure that good people come to the country and respect the country’s law.
“Chinese, sometimes they are coming here and they just don’t care about the legislation. They just come and they try to bribe people to get whatever they need. That’s not good.”
Asked if the DRC could balance competing US and Chinese interests in critical minerals, Mr Bele – regarded as an unofficial adviser to the government – said it didn’t have a choice. “It is a very tricky situation,” he said.
Wonder why Ukraine would classify their lithium reserves figures...
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-ukraines-mineral-resources/
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-ukraines-mineral-resources/
Frank
Top 20
If you go down to the Crapper / Outhouse / Dunny in the Dark tonight you will find another Top 5 AVZ Post 
This is an interesting article. Will Tshisekedi agree to the request from the US to hand back control of the North and South mines to AVZ.
I am sure AVZ Board are keeping all options open with only 84 days left before the ICSID case is heard.
We should be very sceptical as to the intentions of DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.
Why hasn't his administration had discussions with AVZ and CATL before now rather than seek an engagement from the US.
The US has suspended aid to the Congo along with the World Bank. This has crippled the DRC.
The DRC is running out of money fast and the M23 Rebels and Rwanda are seeking to seize control of the DRC's critical mining interests.
So now Tshisekedi is forced onto the front foot to have discussions with the US and seek a meeting with President Trump.
Tshisekedi is starting to lose control, if he hasn't already and his own life is at serious risk.
Where are your Chinese mates now Tshisekedi?
Why hasn't Beijing come to your aid? Where are the cries for help from Zijin?
The AVZ Board has undoubtedly briefed the US Administration about the impending ICSID and ICC legal cases against the DRC and what determination it will be seeking if these legal cases proceed to a verdict from the Courts.
$10B immediately leaps out from the Feasibility Study and expansion results released by AVZ.
AVZ has a great opportunity to obtain significant leverage here from this US engagement in the lead up to the ICSID case being heard.
By the end of month we will also know the outcome of the Zijin appeal in Paris, which should be defeated and spell the end for Zijin.
The US is not going to ask AVZ to roll over or to make a concession for the Congolese.
More importantly, President Trump is most likely going to send a delegation to Angola to get the M23 Rebels and Rwanda to withdraw on the threat if this fails the US will take military action to restore Order in the region.
In the meantime, while these negotiations are happening in Africa President Trump's team will likely demand the DRC to restore the full Mining Licence to AVZ unconditionally if it wants the ICSID Cases to be fully withdrawn.
This is the only way forward for you Tshisekedi to save face internationally and retain your power base at least in the short term.
IMO there is still a role for CATL in this project if the US obtains control because Tesla and others will want CATL support. This will keep Beijing (China) happy.
The US would really like to push forward to secure access to Critical Minerals supply from the DRC region and to develop the Lobito Rail Corridor but Tshisekedi you are going to have to take a back seat while the US Administration does its work to purchase the Mining Licence off AVZ and manage the development of the region moving forward.
The involvement of the US and more importantly President Trump is fantastic news for AVZ Shareholders and I just hope the US pays a generous price to take the Mining Licence off AVZ for $3-$4 US per share.
That will make all Long term Shareholders happy.
Go AVZ and bring this deal home.
Food for thought
Frank
P.S
This is an interesting article. Will Tshisekedi agree to the request from the US to hand back control of the North and South mines to AVZ.
I am sure AVZ Board are keeping all options open with only 84 days left before the ICSID case is heard.
We should be very sceptical as to the intentions of DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.
Why hasn't his administration had discussions with AVZ and CATL before now rather than seek an engagement from the US.
The US has suspended aid to the Congo along with the World Bank. This has crippled the DRC.
The DRC is running out of money fast and the M23 Rebels and Rwanda are seeking to seize control of the DRC's critical mining interests.
So now Tshisekedi is forced onto the front foot to have discussions with the US and seek a meeting with President Trump.
Tshisekedi is starting to lose control, if he hasn't already and his own life is at serious risk.
Where are your Chinese mates now Tshisekedi?
Why hasn't Beijing come to your aid? Where are the cries for help from Zijin?
The AVZ Board has undoubtedly briefed the US Administration about the impending ICSID and ICC legal cases against the DRC and what determination it will be seeking if these legal cases proceed to a verdict from the Courts.
$10B immediately leaps out from the Feasibility Study and expansion results released by AVZ.
AVZ has a great opportunity to obtain significant leverage here from this US engagement in the lead up to the ICSID case being heard.
By the end of month we will also know the outcome of the Zijin appeal in Paris, which should be defeated and spell the end for Zijin.
The US is not going to ask AVZ to roll over or to make a concession for the Congolese.
More importantly, President Trump is most likely going to send a delegation to Angola to get the M23 Rebels and Rwanda to withdraw on the threat if this fails the US will take military action to restore Order in the region.
In the meantime, while these negotiations are happening in Africa President Trump's team will likely demand the DRC to restore the full Mining Licence to AVZ unconditionally if it wants the ICSID Cases to be fully withdrawn.
This is the only way forward for you Tshisekedi to save face internationally and retain your power base at least in the short term.
IMO there is still a role for CATL in this project if the US obtains control because Tesla and others will want CATL support. This will keep Beijing (China) happy.
The US would really like to push forward to secure access to Critical Minerals supply from the DRC region and to develop the Lobito Rail Corridor but Tshisekedi you are going to have to take a back seat while the US Administration does its work to purchase the Mining Licence off AVZ and manage the development of the region moving forward.
The involvement of the US and more importantly President Trump is fantastic news for AVZ Shareholders and I just hope the US pays a generous price to take the Mining Licence off AVZ for $3-$4 US per share.
That will make all Long term Shareholders happy.
Go AVZ and bring this deal home.
Amovatio
Food for thought
Frank
P.S
Frank
Top 20
In other News, my friend Mr Moores has some interesting things to say in this Post on X
Last edited:
I would be ecstatic with $3 - $4 TO......If you go down to the Crapper / Outhouse / Dunny in the Dark tonight you will find another Top 5 AVZ Post
View attachment 79188
This is an interesting article. Will Tshisekedi agree to the request from the US to hand back control of the North and South mines to AVZ.
I am sure AVZ Board are keeping all options open with only 84 days left before the ICSID case is heard.
We should be very sceptical as to the intentions of DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.
Why hasn't his administration had discussions with AVZ and CATL before now rather than seek an engagement from the US.
The US has suspended aid to the Congo along with the World Bank. This has crippled the DRC.
The DRC is running out of money fast and the M23 Rebels and Rwanda are seeking to seize control of the DRC's critical mining interests.
So now Tshisekedi is forced onto the front foot to have discussions with the US and seek a meeting with President Trump.
Tshisekedi is starting to lose control, if he hasn't already and his own life is at serious risk.
Where are your Chinese mates now Tshisekedi?
Why hasn't Beijing come to your aid? Where are the cries for help from Zijin?
The AVZ Board has undoubtedly briefed the US Administration about the impending ICSID and ICC legal cases against the DRC and what determination it will be seeking if these legal cases proceed to a verdict from the Courts.
$10B immediately leaps out from the Feasibility Study and expansion results released by AVZ.
AVZ has a great opportunity to obtain significant leverage here from this US engagement in the lead up to the ICSID case being heard.
By the end of month we will also know the outcome of the Zijin appeal in Paris, which should be defeated and spell the end for Zijin.
The US is not going to ask AVZ to roll over or to make a concession for the Congolese.
More importantly, President Trump is most likely going to send a delegation to Angola to get the M23 Rebels and Rwanda to withdraw on the threat if this fails the US will take military action to restore Order in the region.
In the meantime, while these negotiations are happening in Africa President Trump's team will likely demand the DRC to restore the full Mining Licence to AVZ unconditionally if it wants the ICSID Cases to be fully withdrawn.
This is the only way forward for you Tshisekedi to save face internationally and retain your power base at least in the short term.
IMO there is still a role for CATL in this project if the US obtains control because Tesla and others will want CATL support. This will keep Beijing (China) happy.
The US would really like to push forward to secure access to Critical Minerals supply from the DRC region and to develop the Lobito Rail Corridor but Tshisekedi you are going to have to take a back seat while the US Administration does its work to purchase the Mining Licence off AVZ and manage the development of the region moving forward.
The involvement of the US and more importantly President Trump is fantastic news for AVZ Shareholders and I just hope the US pays a generous price to take the Mining Licence off AVZ for $3-$4 US per share.
That will make all Long term Shareholders happy.
Go AVZ and bring this deal home.
Amovatio
Food for thought
Frank
P.S
View attachment 79194
Sorry @ptlas , i couldnt STFU.
My bad.
Carlos Danger
Top 20
I agree it’s too early to rule CATH out completely. It will all depend on Felix. Trump demanding AVZ get paid is a test of how investable the DRC is for the gringos.
But when the chips were down CATH showed their true red colours. The irony that AVZ management are in Washington on CATH’s dime is amazing. If CATH get rat fucked and we make a little less money I won’t care.
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