China’s Zijin Mining is set to begin the Democratic Republic of Congo’s first commercial lithium production in June 2026 at the Manono deposit, marking a significant step in the country’s entry into the global battery minerals market. Exports are expected to commence immediately after production starts, as reported by Reuters.
The Manono project, regarded as one of the world’s largest undeveloped hard-rock lithium deposits, is operated by Manono Lithium, a joint venture in which Zijin holds a 61 percent stake alongside Congolese state miner Cominiere and the government. The permit was reassigned to Zijin after authorities revoked the licence previously held by Australia’s AVZ Minerals, a move that has triggered ongoing international arbitration, MarketScreener noted.
“Manono Lithium will produce its first tons in June, and exports will begin immediately after,” Cominiere Managing Director Alpha Monga Mwidia said on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, according to Reuters. Production targets have not been publicly disclosed, and the launch comes amid continued legal disputes and a period of softer global lithium prices.
Under the joint venture terms, Zijin will handle sales of all initial output, including Cominiere’s share. The project is expected to strengthen Congo’s position in the critical minerals supply chain as demand for lithium, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, remains strategically important despite near-term market volatility, Reuters reported.
