Chinese multinational mining firm Zijin Mining is to explore and develop the northeast part of the Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The mine is one of the largest open-pit exploitable lithium-rich lithium, cesium, tantalum pegmatite deposits discovered in the world, Zijin said. The DRC government on 23 October granted the exploration rights for the northeast part of the mine to Zijin.
DRC state-owned mining firm Cominiere earlier this year registered the exploration rights of Manono. Cominiere invited Zijin to develop the northeast part of the project and set up the joint-venture company Manono Lithium with Zijin, whose subsidiary Jinxiang Lithium holds a 61pc stake and Cominiere 39pc.
The project is still in the "greenfield" stage, Zijin said. Jinxiang Lithium will be responsible for geological exploration, site construction and development, as well as operational management of this project. Construction is projected to be completed within two years after the feasibility study and financing plan is determined. A lithium smelting industry park will be built at the same time, with more details including the capacity and launch dates still undisclosed. Output from this project will be preferentially supplied to downstream companies in the DRC.
Zijin aims to increase its lithium capacity to 120,000-150,000 t/yr lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2025. It has invested in the Tres Quebradas lithium brine project in Argentina, the Huadao lithium project in central China's Hunan province and the Laguocuo salt lake brine project in northwest China's Tibet region. It has control over 12.15mn t LCE of resources.
Many Chinese lithium companies that supply the electric vehicle (EV) power battery industry chain have accelerated their investment in lithium resources in Africa, following their expansion in traditional supply sources such as Australia and South America. China's major battery metals producer Huayou Cobalt has started delivering lithium concentrates from its Arcadia mine in Zimbabwe since late April. Fellow lithium mining and salts firm Sinomine Resource in September also delivered to China the first batch of lithium concentrate (spodumene) from its Bikita mine in Zimbabwe.
