KINSHASA, July 23 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has certified its first-ever lithium export, marking a milestone in the country’s efforts to diversify its mining sector, according to the national mineral certification authority.
The Center for Expertise, Evaluation, and Certification of Mineral Substances said on Wednesday that it had mobilized personnel, as well as technical and logistical resources, to inspect and certify the shipment in accordance with national regulations and international trade requirements.
The inaugural shipment of lithium products, produced by Manono Lithium SAS, a joint venture between China’s Zijin Mining and the DRC state-owned mining company COMINIERE, departed through the port of Kalemie in the southeastern province of Tanganyika.
The Manono lithium mine is one of the world’s largest undeveloped, high-grade, lithium-rich LCT (lithium, cesium, tantalum) pegmatite deposits. In October 2023, Zijin Mining was invited to cooperate with COMINIERE on the exploration and development of the northeastern greenfield section of the Manono lithium deposit.
The Manono northeast lithium project is designed with an annual mining and processing capacity of five million tonnes, producing approximately one million tonnes of spodumene concentrate per year. Lithium is a critical raw material used in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
