Quick Facts
| Location | Tanganyika Province; -7.30°S, 27.45°E |
| Ownership | Contested: AVZ claims 75% via Dathcom Mining; Zijin holds permit via Manono Lithium SAS (61% Zijin/39% Cominiere); KoBold Metals seeking entry |
| Production | Pre-production; Zijin targeting production Q1 2026 |
| Workforce | Limited pre-production activity |
| Primary Minerals | Lithium, Tin |
| Corridor Connection | ~500km north of Lubumbashi; not directly on Lobito Corridor route |
| Operator Website | www.avzminerals.com.au |
Overview
The Manono Project is one of the world's largest hard-rock lithium deposits and has become the most contested mining asset in the DRC, entangled in a multi-party legal battle that epitomises the intersection of resource nationalism, geopolitical competition, and critical mineral supply chain security.
Located in Tanganyika Province approximately 500 kilometres north of Lubumbashi, Manono contains an estimated 400 million tonnes of lithium-bearing ore at an average grade of 1.65% Li2O — significantly above global averages of 0.9-1.2% Li2O. The deposit could account for up to 10% of worldwide lithium production when fully developed, making it one of the most strategically significant undeveloped mineral assets on the planet.
The dispute centres on ownership rights. Australia's AVZ Minerals conducted exploration under a joint venture with state-owned Cominiere, claiming a 75% majority stake through Dathcom Mining and rights under mining permit PR13359 (awarded May 2022, valid until 2047). In 2023, the DRC Ministry of Mines revoked AVZ's permit, citing development delays despite over USD 100 million invested. The rights were transferred to a subsidiary of China's Zijin Mining, creating Manono Lithium SAS (61% Zijin via Jinxiang Lithium, 39% Cominiere).
AVZ launched proceedings in both the ICC (against Cominiere) and ICSID (against the DRC government). In early 2025, the ICC ordered Cominiere to pay EUR 39.1 million in penalties. The ICSID issued interim orders requiring Congo to recognize Dathcom Mining as the rightful license holder. Despite these rulings, the DRC has refused to comply.
Adding another dimension, US-backed KoBold Metals (funded by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos) has entered negotiations for the southern portion of the deposit. In May 2025, KoBold signed a framework agreement with AVZ for a USD 1 billion development package. In July 2025, the DRC announced a separate deal with KoBold, which AVZ condemned as violating ICSID orders. The US government has supported resolution efforts, viewing Manono as critical to countering China's lithium dominance.
Community Impact
Manono's development, whenever it occurs, would transform Tanganyika Province. The region is remote and underdeveloped, with limited infrastructure. Construction of a mine at this scale would require approximately USD 650 million in capital expenditure, including a 400km access road and hydroelectric power supply on the Luvua River.
The protracted ownership dispute has meant that the community benefits promised by multiple parties remain unrealised. Local expectations have been raised and frustrated repeatedly as different companies and governments make competing claims.
Environmental Profile
The environmental profile of Manono development would include significant land disturbance, water management challenges, and the ecological impacts of constructing substantial infrastructure in a relatively undeveloped area. AVZ's engineers designed a Dense Media Separation plant with recovery rates exceeding 80%, which could reduce processing impacts compared to conventional hard-rock lithium extraction.
ESG Assessment
Status: Under Assessment
This mine has not yet received a formal Lobito Corridor ESG rating. Our assessment team is compiling baseline data from public sources, field observations, and stakeholder consultations. ESG ratings, when issued, will be verified through the source library.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2016-2020 | AVZ Minerals conducts exploration; identifies world-class deposit |
| May 2022 | DRC Ministry of Mines awards mining permit PR13359 to AVZ |
| May 2022 | AVZ shares suspended on ASX amid emerging dispute |
| 2023 | DRC revokes AVZ permit citing development delays; rights transferred to Zijin |
| June 2023 | AVZ files ICSID arbitration against the DRC |
| Jan 2024 | ICSID issues interim orders recognizing Dathcom; CATL provides AVZ $20M |
| March 2025 | ICC orders Cominiere to pay EUR 39.1M penalty to AVZ |
| May 2025 | KoBold-AVZ framework agreement for $1B development |
| June 2025 | AVZ resumes ICSID arbitration after DRC refuses to engage |
| July 2025 | DRC announces separate KoBold deal; AVZ claims ICSID violation |
| Nov 2025 | ASIC launches proceedings against AVZ over disclosure failures |
Related Pages
Company: AVZ Minerals · Zijin Mining · KoBold Metals
Related Mines: Mingomba (KoBold's Zambia project)
Country: DRC Profile
Index: All Mine Profiles · ESG Observatory
This profile is produced independently by Lobito Corridor and does not represent the views of Disputed: AVZ Minerals / Zijin Mining / KoBold Metals or any government. Data sourced from public filings, government reports, and independent research. Last updated: May 19, 2026.
Independent ESG Assessment
Our independent ESG assessment evaluates this operation's environmental management, social impact, governance quality, and disclosure transparency. Environmental assessment covers water management, waste handling, air emissions, biodiversity impacts, and mine closure planning. Social assessment examines community relations, employment practices, local procurement, benefit-sharing, and human rights performance. Governance assessment evaluates corporate transparency, anti-corruption measures, and stakeholder engagement quality.
Assessment findings are incorporated into our quarterly Corridor ESG Scorecards, providing stakeholders with comparable, independent ratings across all major corridor mining operations. Operations meeting our assessment thresholds are eligible for verified ESG ratings issued from our evidence archive — verifiable reputation signals that differentiate responsible operators from those whose ESG claims are unsubstantiated. Rating publication requires demonstrated performance, not just policy commitments.
Community Impact Monitoring
Community impact monitoring around this operation tracks the full spectrum of mining effects on surrounding populations. Employment and procurement spending quantify direct economic benefits to local communities. Environmental monitoring tracks water quality, air quality, and ecosystem health in areas affected by operations. Community consultation processes are evaluated for meaningful participation versus performative compliance. Grievance mechanisms are assessed for accessibility, responsiveness, and outcome fairness.
Our monitoring provides the independent verification that enables stakeholders — investors, regulators, civil society, and affected communities themselves — to assess whether this operation delivers the community benefits that its social licence to operate requires. Documentation is preserved on our source evidence archive, creating permanent records that support long-term accountability and prevent the revisionism that undermines community claims when corporate memory proves conveniently selective.
Labour Practices Assessment
Labour practices at this operation are assessed against both national labour law requirements and international standards including ILO conventions and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Our assessment covers wage levels and payment practices, working hours and overtime compensation, occupational health and safety conditions, freedom of association and collective bargaining, contract terms and employment security, and subcontractor labour standards. Subcontractor labour conditions receive particular attention as subcontracting relationships can create distance between the operating company and workers that enables standards erosion.
Our assessment includes worker consultation that captures perspectives not reflected in corporate compliance reporting. Workers face barriers to reporting concerns through company channels including fear of retaliation, distrust of management-controlled grievance mechanisms, and language barriers. Our independent worker consultation provides confidential channels through which labour concerns can be documented and, where appropriate, escalated through advocacy or referral to labour rights organisations. All worker consultation documentation is handled with strict confidentiality to protect worker anonymity and prevent retaliation.
Supply Chain and Market Position
This mine's position within global mineral supply chains determines the economic dynamics that shape its operational decisions and community impact. Copper and cobalt prices, processing locations, end-user industries, and supply-demand dynamics create the commercial context within which environmental and social management decisions are made. When commodity prices are high, operators may invest more in community development and environmental management; when prices fall, these investments face pressure. Our monitoring tracks the relationship between market conditions and ESG performance to assess whether responsible practices are maintained through market cycles or only during profitable periods.
The corridor's logistics infrastructure — railway capacity, port throughput, transport costs — directly affects this mine's export economics. Improved corridor logistics reduce transport costs, improving mine profitability and potentially creating space for increased community benefit-sharing. Conversely, logistics bottlenecks increase costs and reduce the economic surplus available for community investment. Our strategic analysis evaluates how corridor infrastructure development affects this mine's economics and, consequently, the resources available for community benefit and environmental management.