KINSHASA, Feb 12 – China’s Zijin Mining is preparing to launch the Democratic Republic of Congo’s first lithium production in June, commencing output from the contested Manono deposit and moving directly into exports, according to the company and state miner Cominiere.
The revised timeline marks a shift from Zijin’s earlier indication of a first quarter 2026 start. The company confirmed that June now reflects updated operational planning.
The Manono resource is considered one of the world’s largest undeveloped hard rock lithium deposits. However, it remains at the center of a legal dispute after Congolese authorities revoked the permit previously held by Australian miner AVZ Minerals and reassigned part of the site to Manono Lithium, a joint venture between Zijin and Cominiere.
Zijin holds a 61 percent stake in the venture, while Cominiere and the Congolese state control the remainder. Cominiere Managing Director Alpha Monga Mwidia said initial production would begin in June, with exports to follow immediately.
Zijin has not disclosed expected production volumes or first year export targets. Under the joint venture agreement, all first phase output will be marketed by Zijin, including Cominiere’s share. Cominiere did not contribute to the estimated one billion dollar project financing but will receive revenue proportional to its equity stake.
The launch comes at a challenging moment for global lithium markets. Prices have fallen sharply from late 2022 highs, declining by more than 80 percent amid increased Chinese stockpiling and rising domestic supply.
The project also highlights intensifying geopolitical competition over critical minerals. The United States has been working to channel more Congolese mineral supply toward Western markets, seeking to counter China’s longstanding influence in Africa’s mining sector.
While AVZ continues arbitration proceedings related to its revoked permit, both Zijin and Cominiere maintain that the dispute does not affect production schedules and that operations comply with existing law.
In contrast, U.S. backed KoBold Metals, which holds exploration rights on the opposite side of the Manono deposit, has indicated it will delay construction until ownership issues are fully resolved.
Cominiere is supporting the project’s energy needs through its subsidiary Katamba Mining, currently supplying 44 megawatts of power with plans to scale capacity to 120 megawatts to serve the mining operation and surrounding communities.
The start of lithium output at Manono positions Congo to enter the global battery minerals supply chain at a time of rising strategic competition over resources essential for electric vehicles and energy storage.
