Manono-Kitolo mine

The Manono-Kitolo mine is a former tin and coltan mine, which also contains one of the largest lithium reserves globally, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[3] The mine is located in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo in Tanganyika Province.^[3] The Manono-Kitolo mine has reserves amounting to 120 million tonnes of lithium ore grading 0.6% lithium thus resulting 0.72 million tonnes of lithium.^[3]

Manono-Kitolo mine

Location
Manono-Kitolo mine
Province	Tanganyika Province
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Coordinates	7.296°S 27.426°E / -7.296; 27.426
Production
Products	Tin Tantalum Niobium Lithium
History
Opened	1915[1]
Closed	1982[2]

History

Original mine

The mine was run by Géomines from 1915 to the mid-1980s, producing 140,000 tons of cassiterite (tin) and 10,000 tons of columbite-tantalite (coltan).^[1] Since the mine's closure, companies have focused on the large lithium reserves at the site.^[2]

Lithium project

In 2018 studies reported a significant high-grade lithium deposit, estimated to have the potential of 1.5 billion tons of lithium spodumene hard rock situated in Manono in central DRC. AVZ Minerals, an Australian company, initially claimed to hold a 75% stake in a joint venture with the Congolaise d'Exploitation Minière (25%), a State-owned enterprise.^[4][5]

In 2021, AVZ agreed to sell a 24% stake in the venture to the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL for $240 million.^[6]

Ownership dispute

Ownership of the Manono-Kitolo lithium project has become contested. In 2021, Chinese miner Zijin Mining lawfully acquired a 15% stake in Dathcom Mining SA, the project's holding company, from Cominière. AVZ Minerals challenged this sale, initiating legal action which was repeatedly rejected by Congolese courts.^[7] In February 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ministry of Mines revoked AVZ Minerals' mining permit for the Manono project, citing delays in project development. Subsequently, the rights were awarded to Manono Lithium SAS, a joint venture between Zijin Mining (61%) and state-owned Cominière (39%). One of the main elements of the new mine plan is to refurbish the nearby Mpiana-Mwanga hydropower station to supply energy for mining operations.^[8]

Manono tailings project

As of 2022, Canada-based Tantalex Resources Corporation was seeking to raise funds to reprocess tailings from the historical Manono mine.^[9]

See also

• Manono, Democratic Republic of the Congo