China's Zijin Mining Group Co. has announced the establishment of a venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo to develop an area of one of the world's largest hard rock lithium deposits, the company said in a statement. However, the right to use the area for which the new permit has been issued is being challenged by Australia's AVZ Minerals Ltd. claiming it owns the rights to the deposits.
The Chinese company said it will co-operate with Congolese state-owned Cominiere to explore a large lithium deposit in the southeastern town of Manono. AVZ is involved in several arbitration cases at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris over mining rights at Manono, including with a unit of China's Zijin and with Congolese Cominiere.
The official map of mining permits in the DRC shows that Zijin and Cominiere's new joint venture, Manono Lithium SAS, has an exploration permit issued on 19 October.
Subscription
The Chinese company said it will co-operate with Congolese state-owned Cominiere to explore a large lithium deposit in the southeastern town of Manono. AVZ is involved in several arbitration cases at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris over mining rights at Manono, including with a unit of China's Zijin and with Congolese Cominiere.
The official map of mining permits in the DRC shows that Zijin and Cominiere's new joint venture, Manono Lithium SAS, has an exploration permit issued on 19 October.
Subscription