• Zijin Mining, Cominière shift start date to June 2026
• $1B project to produce 95,170 tons of lithium sulfate annually
• Launch comes amid global lithium price decline

The commissioning of the Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been rescheduled to June 2026, after initially being expected in the first quarter of the year. Chinese group Zijin Mining and its Congolese partner Cominière announced the update on February 11, on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

The announcement confirms the imminent launch of what is expected to become the DRC’s first industrial-scale lithium mine. Under construction since 2024, the Manono project is being developed through a joint venture between Cominière and Zijin Mining. The Chinese group has financed the construction cost, estimated at about $1 billion.

Reuters first reported the delay, citing a Cominière representative. The information was later confirmed on Zijin Mining’s official website, which now lists June 30 as the planned start date.

According to available information, the Manono processing plant will handle 500,000 tons of spodumene concentrate and produce 95,170 tons of lithium sulfate annually. The project is expected to strengthen the DRC’s position as a key supplier of strategic minerals for the energy transition, alongside its established role in copper and cobalt. Lithium is used in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage technologies linked to renewable power.

Legal dispute and weak prices

Although Zijin Mining has overseen construction, it joined the Manono project in 2023 at Cominière’s request. At the time, Cominière was involved in a dispute with its former partner AVZ Minerals, which had led exploration work at the site. The Australian company has initiated international arbitration proceedings against Cominière, with no major developments reported so far.

AVZ has not publicly responded to the latest communications regarding the production launch.

The Manono project is also entering production amid pressure in the global lithium market, marked by oversupply, particularly from China. According to Fastmarkets, spodumene prices fell by more than 80% between 2023 and 2024 and continue to trend downward. It remains unclear how the project will position itself in this environment, especially as future production is expected to be marketed exclusively by Zijin.

Cominière will receive revenue in proportion to its stake in the joint venture. Zijin holds 54.9% of the project, while the remaining share is owned by the Congolese state company.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou