AVZ Discussion 2022

[Dazmac66]

View attachment 12059

Oil&Gas is spot on! Maybe we could start by e-mailing our respective state news bodies and on-line news publishers.
Why isn't this big news in Australia? A potentially massive Australian company having a red hot crack but getting reamed by crooks in the DRC and ruthless money hungry Chinese con-men? I emailed 4 Corners a few months back - I will have another crack at them, would make a compelling story.

 

[wombat74]

View attachment 12050

Under normal circumstances you'd have to say Cong has put a noose around his own neck . Blatant lying that can be easily proved .

 

[Remark]

C'mon Felix, the Chinese need more lithium to make these AliExpress Robot dogs.

Seen here fitted with a Russian made PP-19 Vityaz submachine gun...

 

[Winenut]

Under normal circumstances you'd have to say Cong has put a noose around his own neck . Blatant lying that can be easily proved .

Well it hasn't seemed to be super easy to prove it yet unfortunately!

 

[mouseflying]

Any update for icc pairs arbitration? I still can't find any informaiton on ICC website.
I think it's the time to let us know it's 1 or 3 arbitrator?
or zijin withdraw the case?

 

[Samus]

What I'd like to know is, in what sort of system this head of CAMI can get away with simply sitting on his hands and refusing to budge after receiving the decree from the mining minister? (in theory his boss?).

This amongst other things beggars belief.

*Not really Sam,

Not when you read articles like the one below, then you soon realise "What a Tangled Web they Weave when they Practice to Deceive"

Not to mention the lengths Chinese Co will go to to get what they want in the DRC

www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-11-28/africa-s-biggest-data-leak-reveals-china-money-role-in-kabila-s-congo-looting

The irony is we have a government claiming to be cracking down on this sort of corruption while state employees hold AVZ hostage to the detriment of the Congolese state. Some even it seems from within the current ranks of Dathcom presumably to protect themselves from facing justice for their past and ongoing shady dealings and secure ongoing personal financial benifits as opposed to going with a company that does things above board.
IGF found the Cominière actions to be corrupt yet somehow they can still hold their ground in blocking development along with officials from CAMI against the ruling of the Mining minister who's wishes should override all of them.
WTF??
Is the macro political environment still so sensitive that the simple solution of forcing these criminals to do their job and/or face justice can't be taken?
Surely in such clear cut circumstances Government employees working for Chinese interests against the state should be sacked at the very least.
Meanwhile we've got politicians gallivanting around the world touting DRC as some fantastic investment opportunity.

Hopefully with the media spotlight on these issues we might finally see some action from the top at tomorrow's Council of Ministers (as has been the hope for months so far)

 

[wombat74]

Not expecting AVZ to fail here , but would there be a plan B if these pricks get the upper hand ? Is the CATH deal paramount moving forward ? Could Nigel have a potential replacement JV in the wings ? Any thoughts out there what could be a plan B .? Or are we just rooted . Bit bored . Thought it might be an interesting question to throw out there .

 

[obe wan]

Under normal circumstances you'd have to say Cong has put a noose around his own neck . Blatant lying that can be easily proved .

Yes, will now be interesting to see Klaus's reaction if Cong falls off the cliff; remember Simon Cong is a non exec Director of Amani gold (ANL) and they are well know to have a business relationship in DRC in any case.

Heard on a grapevine that our own Non Exec Peter Huljich has caused some issues ,as he refused step down from the AVZ board , as AVZ tried to widen the gap between any association with Klaus and Cong , hence why Nigel resigned from AJN . Peter Huljich as you'd know is also on the Amani ANL board and so he is created a connection between Klaus and Cong (ANL)/AJN and AVZ, this connection likely created a bit of sand in the gears of AVZ as accusations were being thrown like grenades by the some DRC cockroaches.

The information / speculation which is flowing through the social media platforms, it sounds like Cong is under pressure . with Cong under pressure and hopefully put to the sword , will eyes turn to Klaus and AJN . It would be hard to believe that Klaus and Cong weren't going to 'benefit' through this AJN arrangement , direct resources into some greasy hands whilst Jean Felix positively stamped approvals on half baked applications like a Duracell bunny.

Wonder if Simon Cong gets offloaded from Amani gold board ; wonder if DRC starts to reconsider AJN

 

[Frank]

Not expecting AVZ to fail here , but would there be a plan B if these pricks get the upper hand ? Is the CATH deal paramount moving forward ? Could Nigel have a potential replacement JV in wings ? Any thoughts out there what could be a plan B .? Or are we just rooted . Bit bored . Thought it might be an interesting question to throw out there .

Plan B:- Kick CATH to the Curb, bring in EU / US Big Guns begging for it

Tesla’s Denholm says Australia is key to avoid EV battery crunch​

Lithium powerhouse Australia, which produces about half of all unprocessed supplies of the raw material, needs to add capacity in refining and manufacturing to help the world meet surging demand for batteries, according to Tesla Inc. Chair Robyn Denholm.

Tesla alone will need more than 3 terabyte hours of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage by 2030, compared to the industry’s current global capacity of about 1 terabyte, Denholm, who has helmed the automaker’s board since 2018, said in Sydney.

“I can’t think of a technology that’s more important than lithium-ion batteries right now,” she said at the Australian Clean Energy Summit.

“To meet the challenge of climate change this entire industry needs to scale at sprinting pace.”

Despite its vast mineral wealth, Australia accounts for only 7% of refined lithium supply and the nation can do more to use its advantages to develop production of specialist materials, battery cells and electric vehicles, according to Denholm.

“Australia has the minerals — not just lithium — and also the know-how and many of the skills to capture the opportunity of this new energy era,” she said.

Tesla and other carmakers have this year raised sticker prices, along with battery producers like Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., in response to higher costs of raw materials, driven at least in part by demand that’s rising faster than production capacity.

In lithium, almost $14 billion is needed to develop planned production capacity by 2025, according to BloombergNEF.

www.mining.com/category/battery-metals/

VW’s battery business faces supply chain hurdles​

PowerCo is meant to bundle VW’s battery-making activities much in the same way as its Cariad unit is attempting to streamline software efforts.

It will oversee activities including procurement, raw-materials processing, product development and plant management.

The push ties into VW’s efforts to streamline decision-making and make the vast conglomerate leaner and more focused.

“We are starting from the beginning to cover all aspects, from the mine to the end product,” Mueller said.

“We need to understand the sourcing, pricing to have a competitive product.”

www.mining.com/category/battery-metals/

Food for thought on the Road to Mining Manono Bro

Cheers

Frank

 

[JAG]

 

[JAG]

​

Investigation sounds alarm on risks in Congo’s nascent lithium sector​

MINING.COM Staff Writer | December 14, 2021 | 5:06 am Battery Metals Africa Lithium

Most lithium mining concessions in the DRC are close to the southern town of Manono, pictured here. (Image by Tom Skrinar, Flickr).
A new investigation by Global Witness looking into the Democratic Republic of Congo’s nascent lithium sector sounds the alarm bell on a swathe of potential supply chain risks.

To create the report, the London and Washington-based NGO looked at a sample block of 51 mining concessions that concentrated around the town of Manono in southern DRC and where hard-rock lithium deposits have been discovered. Three companies – AVZ Minerals, Critical Resources and Tantalex Resources – have publicly announced plans to carry out lithium exploration or production at mining concessions in the area.

“Drawing back the curtain on the companies and people involved in this new, potentially globally significant lithium industry, the investigation found concessions on and around DRC’s lithium deposits are or were held by or involved a small number of people with close business relationships – including a now-serving government official – with former President Kabila,” the report reads.

According to the group, Cong Mao Huai, reported to be an adviser to former DRC president Joseph Kabila, is or was associated with companies with ownership links to six concessions investigated by Global Witness.
The NGO claims to have seen documents that appear to show there have been long-standing business links between Cong and now-serving Minister Guy Loando Mboyo. The report also cites data from Congo Hold Up – the biggest leak of financial information from Africa to date – which supports the allegations of the business links between the two.
“Our investigation shows that investors need to think critically before endorsing DRC’s lithium sector,” Paul Donowitz, head of natural resource governance campaigns at Global Witness, said in a media statement.
“Company contracts, payments and beneficial ownership in key deals are not being fully disclosed, despite this being required by Congolese law. Companies must also ensure they fully respect the environment and communities in the mining areas.”
In Donowitz’s view, there is a small window of opportunity to address the potential supply chain risks in DRC’s lithium sector, before production begins.
“Companies, investors and governments – both of the DRC and companies’ home states – must act now or the whole industry risks being seriously undermined by governance risks and harms to people and the planet,” he said.
The report closes with a number of recommendations, asking companies financing, producing, using or trading DRC’s lithium to ensure that their investments and operations, as well as those of their subsidiaries and suppliers, adhere to international governance, environmental and human rights standards, and all existing Congolese laws, whichever are stronger.
It also asks these firms to take responsibility to conduct, disclose and implement robust due diligence policies and procedures to prevent, identify, mitigate and account for human rights, environmental and governance risks in their operations, including supply chains and business relationships.
Finally, it asks the Congolese government to ensure disclosure of all beneficial owners of mining companies, mining contracts and public, project-level payment reporting for all of Congo’s mining contracts, in line with Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative reporting standards and best practice.

 

[JAG]

 

[JAG]

View attachment 12110

Give me $7.5 and I walk away in peace please Nigel!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sammy_da_Smile]

View attachment 12108​

​

Investigation sounds alarm on risks in Congo’s nascent lithium sector​

MINING.COM Staff Writer | December 14, 2021 | 5:06 am Battery Metals Africa Lithium

Most lithium mining concessions in the DRC are close to the southern town of Manono, pictured here. (Image by Tom Skrinar, Flickr).
A new investigation by Global Witness looking into the Democratic Republic of Congo’s nascent lithium sector sounds the alarm bell on a swathe of potential supply chain risks.

To create the report, the London and Washington-based NGO looked at a sample block of 51 mining concessions that concentrated around the town of Manono in southern DRC and where hard-rock lithium deposits have been discovered. Three companies – AVZ Minerals, Critical Resources and Tantalex Resources – have publicly announced plans to carry out lithium exploration or production at mining concessions in the area.

“Drawing back the curtain on the companies and people involved in this new, potentially globally significant lithium industry, the investigation found concessions on and around DRC’s lithium deposits are or were held by or involved a small number of people with close business relationships – including a now-serving government official – with former President Kabila,” the report reads.

According to the group, Cong Mao Huai, reported to be an adviser to former DRC president Joseph Kabila, is or was associated with companies with ownership links to six concessions investigated by Global Witness.
The NGO claims to have seen documents that appear to show there have been long-standing business links between Cong and now-serving Minister Guy Loando Mboyo. The report also cites data from Congo Hold Up – the biggest leak of financial information from Africa to date – which supports the allegations of the business links between the two.
“Our investigation shows that investors need to think critically before endorsing DRC’s lithium sector,” Paul Donowitz, head of natural resource governance campaigns at Global Witness, said in a media statement.
“Company contracts, payments and beneficial ownership in key deals are not being fully disclosed, despite this being required by Congolese law. Companies must also ensure they fully respect the environment and communities in the mining areas.”
In Donowitz’s view, there is a small window of opportunity to address the potential supply chain risks in DRC’s lithium sector, before production begins.
“Companies, investors and governments – both of the DRC and companies’ home states – must act now or the whole industry risks being seriously undermined by governance risks and harms to people and the planet,” he said.
The report closes with a number of recommendations, asking companies financing, producing, using or trading DRC’s lithium to ensure that their investments and operations, as well as those of their subsidiaries and suppliers, adhere to international governance, environmental and human rights standards, and all existing Congolese laws, whichever are stronger.
It also asks these firms to take responsibility to conduct, disclose and implement robust due diligence policies and procedures to prevent, identify, mitigate and account for human rights, environmental and governance risks in their operations, including supply chains and business relationships.
Finally, it asks the Congolese government to ensure disclosure of all beneficial owners of mining companies, mining contracts and public, project-level payment reporting for all of Congo’s mining contracts, in line with Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative reporting standards and best practice.

Not a good look for DRC on the world stage

 

[Frank]

Oil&Gas is spot on! Maybe we could start by e-mailing our respective state news bodies and on-line news publishers.
Why isn't this big news in Australia? A potentially massive Australian company having a red hot crack but getting reamed by crooks in the DRC and ruthless money hungry Chinese con-men? I emailed 4 Corners a few months back - I will have another crack at them, would make a compelling story.

*Speaking of "Compelling Stories" Daz, Did you see where,

Tesla boss Lithium Musk says get into refining, ‘it’s a licence to print money’​

Tesla has reported its earnings for Q2 and Elon Musk encouraged entrepreneurs to get into lithium refining.

“There’s like, software margins in lithium processing right now,” he said in the company’s earnings call.

“I would really like to encourage, once again, entrepreneurs to enter the lithium refining business – you can’t lose.

“It’s a licence to print money.”

He’s not wrong, Chinese battery makers still willing to pay upwards of US$70,000/t to get chemicals for electric vehicles in a tight market.

And it’s not the first time he’s begged people to get into the biz.

“Can some more people please get into the lithium business?” Musk said back in April.

“Do you like minting money? Well, the lithium business is for you.”

He’s even previously toyed with the idea of getting Tesla into lithium mining and refining because of sky high prices and a long lead time to production.

In the second quarter, Tesla produced over 258,000 vehicles and delivered over 254,000 vehicles, despite ongoing supply chain challenges and factory shutdowns beyond in Shanghai.

June 2022 was the highest vehicle production month in Tesla’s history, but Musk reckons there’s room to improve.

“We have the potential for a record-breaking second half of the year,” he added.


*To Remind,

US offers support to reduce China’s ‘weaponisation’ of battery metals​

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has told Aussie developers of battery metals projects they can win support from the US Government for their projects.

It’s all part of America’s plan to counter the dominance of China in refining and producing key materials like lithium, rare earths and cobalt.

Just yesterday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the country wants to end its “undue dependence” on rare earths, solar panels and other key goods from China to prevent Beijing from cutting off supplies as it has done to other countries.

And President Joe Biden even invoked the 1950 Defense Production act earlier this year to encourage domestic production.

Granholm says the concern is that critical minerals could be weaponised.

“Our concern is that critical minerals could be vulnerable to manipulation, as we’ve seen in other areas, or weaponisation,” she said in a meeting in Sydney with companies including BHP, Rio Tinto and Lynas Corp.

“We are very serious about establishing strong relationships with Australia and with your potential customers for offtake.”

Granholm also said that producers in Australia can access support through the Department of Energy’s loan programs office.

And some are already waaaaay ahead of the rest.

Graphite producer Syrah Resources has facilities in Louisiana, and in April won a $107 million commitment from the loan programs office.

Plus, Lynas signed a contract with the US Department of Defense to establish a rare earths plant in Texas just last month.

Things are "Heating Up" alright

Food for thought

Frank

 

[Frank]

Not a good look for DRC on the world stage

*I assume this is the same Loando in this Bloomberg article from November 2021 i posted earlier we're talking about,

Loando, Du’s former business partner, was elected in late 2018 to Congo’s senate as a member of Kabila’s coalition and has successfully navigated the deterioration of a pact between the former president and his successor, Felix Tshisekedi.

In April, he became minister of regional planning.

In response to questions about his role at CCC, Loando said he was simply a legal adviser and played no part in the daily management of the company.

He said he wasn’t kept informed of the firm’s commercial activities and therefore had no knowledge of its transactions.

Kabila stepped down at the beginning of 2019, after 18 years in power, following delayed elections held under pressure from the U.S. and the African Union in which Tshisekedi was declared the winner.

What hasn’t changed is the control of Congo’s mines by Chinese companies.

However, Tshisekedi has launched investigations into the minerals-for-infrastructure deal, including the Busanga hydropower plant, and whether China Moly is complying with its contractual obligations.

It’s not clear when any conclusions from those probes will be announced.

Of the $3 billion in promised infrastructure financing from the Chinese companies, most of it still hasn’t arrived.

Tshisekedi’s government said in September that projects worth only about $825 million have been built so far.

And the new president’s top anti-corruption official, Jules Alingete, has been examining alleged corruption scandals that have involved BGFI.

Executives at the bank were “specialists in falsifying accounts,” he said in an interview with the consortium.

“They fabricated, fabricated, fabricated, fabricated things.”

www.bloomberg.com

 

[Samus]

C'mon Felix, the Chinese need more lithium to make these AliExpress Robot dogs.

Seen here fitted with a Russian made PP-19 Vityaz submachine gun...

Surprise surprise if it's a Chinese robot they haven't even bothered to change it from the original stolen design.

Spot | Boston Dynamics

Spot is changing how organizations monitor and operate their sites. Improve team safety and efficiency with agile mobile robot solutions from Boston Dynamics.

www.bostondynamics.com

This Chinese robotics startup is selling a knock-off of Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot that costs $75,000 for only $2,500 - Tech Startups

Shanzhai is a Chinese term that literally means "mountain fortress" or "mountain village." But the contemporary use of the term usually encompasses counterfeit, imitation, or pirated products, which can involve the imitation and trademark infringement of brands and companies. You may argue that...

techstartups.com

 

[Samus]

More positive press:

Validation of the Manono/DRC tin and lithium project: mining company AVZ Minerals Limited provides an update​

WEDNESDAY BOSENGELE COMPANY JULY 21, 2022

Qualified as all the evils in this period marked by the revival of the business climate, the mining company AVZ Minerals Limited has decided to burst the abscess to fix the opinion on its franchise. To this end, she organized a press conference on Friday, July 15, 2022, at the Rotana hotel, in Gombe, to clarify media professionals and others about her loyalty, sincerity and righteousness in the business climate in the face of his detractors who circulate facknews on his notoriety.

In his speech, Me Christian K. Lukusa of the law firm Momentuma explains the agitation that is observed around the Manono tin and lithium project on the validation of the feasibility study by AVZ Minerals Limited . According to him, the speculations that revolve around AVZ are illegal.

What is the concrete problem?

The disagreements revolve around the Australian company AVZ Minerals and the company of the State portfolio Cominière, which does not recognize the legal actions carried out by AVZ Minerals despite having tangible proof. According to AVZ Minerals, Cominière had indeed received the payment for the "no doorstep" and that denying it is proof that the payments were never made to the public treasury.

According to AVZ Minerals, the financial means would not be the reason to qualify it as failing. Returning to the mining code and practices in the mining industry, he said that proof of financial capacity is one of the substantial conditions for being issued an exploration permit in the DRC.


Cominière would accuse AVZ Minerals of having taken the Manono tin and lithium project hostage.

Version of AVZ

For its part, AVZ Minerals claims not to have taken the project hostage and reassures that contrary to the defamatory and slanderous allegations, Cominière was indeed represented at all the meetings and that there is evidence and attendance fees of the representatives from this particular state enterprise, e-mails indicating that they had been informed of everything.

In addition, AVZ Minerals says to bring back the facts legally established by all the legal and regulatory texts of the DRC. It calls on Congolese political leaders to respect the mining law and protect the business climate.

Israel Mpoyi

Validation du projet d’étain et de lithium de Manono/RDC : la société minière AVZ Minerals Limited fait une mise au point

Qualifiée de tous les maux en cette période marquée par la relance du climat des affaires, la société minière AVZ Minerals Limited a décidé de crever l’abcès pour fixer l’opinion sur sa franchise. A cet effet, elle a organisé une conférence de presse, vendredi 15 juillet 2022, à l’hôtel Rotana...

laprosperite.online

The fact that a child comes into the world crying means that life is a struggle. We are fighting the good fight for truth, for the restoration of collective well-being. The tears and prayers of the victims of predation are real shields for us. #IGF

 

[Dazmac66]

*Speaking of "Compelling Stories" Daz, Did you see where,

Tesla boss Lithium Musk says get into refining, ‘it’s a licence to print money’​

Tesla has reported its earnings for Q2 and Elon Musk encouraged entrepreneurs to get into lithium refining.

“There’s like, software margins in lithium processing right now,” he said in the company’s earnings call.

“I would really like to encourage, once again, entrepreneurs to enter the lithium refining business – you can’t lose.

“It’s a licence to print money.”

He’s not wrong, Chinese battery makers still willing to pay upwards of US$70,000/t to get chemicals for electric vehicles in a tight market.

And it’s not the first time he’s begged people to get into the biz.

“Can some more people please get into the lithium business?” Musk said back in April.

“Do you like minting money? Well, the lithium business is for you.”

He’s even previously toyed with the idea of getting Tesla into lithium mining and refining because of sky high prices and a long lead time to production.

In the second quarter, Tesla produced over 258,000 vehicles and delivered over 254,000 vehicles, despite ongoing supply chain challenges and factory shutdowns beyond in Shanghai.

June 2022 was the highest vehicle production month in Tesla’s history, but Musk reckons there’s room to improve.

“We have the potential for a record-breaking second half of the year,” he added.


*To Remind,

US offers support to reduce China’s ‘weaponisation’ of battery metals​

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has told Aussie developers of battery metals projects they can win support from the US Government for their projects.

It’s all part of America’s plan to counter the dominance of China in refining and producing key materials like lithium, rare earths and cobalt.

Just yesterday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the country wants to end its “undue dependence” on rare earths, solar panels and other key goods from China to prevent Beijing from cutting off supplies as it has done to other countries.

And President Joe Biden even invoked the 1950 Defense Production act earlier this year to encourage domestic production.

Granholm says the concern is that critical minerals could be weaponised.

“Our concern is that critical minerals could be vulnerable to manipulation, as we’ve seen in other areas, or weaponisation,” she said in a meeting in Sydney with companies including BHP, Rio Tinto and Lynas Corp.

“We are very serious about establishing strong relationships with Australia and with your potential customers for offtake.”

Granholm also said that producers in Australia can access support through the Department of Energy’s loan programs office.

And some are already waaaaay ahead of the rest.

Graphite producer Syrah Resources has facilities in Louisiana, and in April won a $107 million commitment from the loan programs office.

Plus, Lynas signed a contract with the US Department of Defense to establish a rare earths plant in Texas just last month.


View attachment 12113

Things are "Heating Up" alright

Food for thought

Frank

I will be happy as a pig in shite when we get the go ahead to start building this mine! The lithium refineries need the lithium before they can start printing money!! I think the next dollar party will be even bigger than the first and it is whale season!

 

[TDITD]

I will be happy as a pig in shite when we get the go ahead to start building this mine! The lithium refineries need the lithium before they can start printing money!! I think the next dollar party will be even bigger than the first and it is whale season!

Agreed Daz,

Once we get the go ahead then all this shite is behind us its pedal to the metal, the construction is just the beginning, looking forward to the BFS and our MC heading towards a truer value. Battery plant JV's, expansions, CDL drilling, those pegmatites on our 100% owned tenement look beastly, a move into nickel or cobalt ?

The next decade with this company at the helm of the worlds biggest lithium mine is going to be exciting and very rewarding for those that dared to invest when it 'would never make it to mine'. The EV and storage revolution is here and lithium is front and centre.

P.S those dividends *drooling like Homer Simpson