Zijin Mining Starts Lithium Exports from Congo's Manono

Zijin Mining Group has initiated exports of lithium concentrate from the Manono project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the country's first lithium export. This shipment is part of a broader strategy to extend China's dominance in the mining sector, where companies like CMOC and Huayou Cobalt are already significant players.

The Manono deposit is recognized as one of the world's largest undeveloped hard rock lithium resources. The project has faced legal challenges, including the revocation of permits from Australian miner AVZ Minerals, which has led to a reassignment of parts of the project to Zijin and state miner Cominiere.

Kobold Metals, backed by the U.S., holds adjacent licenses but will not proceed with development until legal disputes are resolved. The initial export, described as a trial shipment, began in June, with limited volumes expected.

The Manono processing plant is set to start production in May 2026, ahead of schedule, with a target of producing five million tons of spodumene concentrate annually.