DRC begins first lithium exports as China’s Zijin advances Manono project

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has exported lithium concentrate for the first time, marking a significant step in its push to become a major supplier of battery minerals as China’s Zijin Mining begins shipments from the giant Manono lithium project.

According to Reuters, exports started in June as scheduled, with the first consignments bound for China. The move further cements China’s influence in the DRC’s mining sector, where Chinese firms already dominate cobalt and copper production.

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The Manono mine is one of the world’s largest undeveloped hard rock lithium deposits and is expected to become a key source of raw materials for electric vehicle batteries and other clean energy technologies.

Industry sources said the initial exports are likely trial shipments as the processing plant ramps up after commissioning delays. Although volumes remain modest, production is expected to increase sharply in the coming months.

One trader estimated that only a few thousand metric tonnes have been exported so far, while another said tens of thousands of tonnes of lithium concentrate have already been produced. Much of the material is still in transit and is expected to arrive in China by October.

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The concentrate is being trucked from Manono to the lakeside city of Kalemie before being transported through Tanzania for export to China.

Zijin said earlier this month that the Manono processing plant entered production in May, one month ahead of schedule. The company expects downstream facilities, including a smelter, to begin operating before the end of the year, supporting a faster expansion of the project.

The miner aims to produce 30,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent in 2026. Once fully operational, the mine is expected to process five million tonnes of ore each year and produce about one million tonnes of spodumene concentrate annually.

The start of lithium exports broadens the DRC’s role in the global supply chain for critical minerals. Already the world’s leading producer of cobalt, the country is seeking to strengthen its position as demand for battery materials rises alongside the transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy.

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Chinese interests hold a controlling stake in the Manono project. Zijin Mining owns 54.9 percent, Congolese state miner Cominiere holds 35.1 percent, while the Congolese government owns the remaining 10 percent.

The project has also been embroiled in a prolonged legal dispute after the Congolese government revoked Australian miner AVZ Minerals’ licence and transferred part of the concession to Manono Lithium. Separately, US-backed KoBold Metals, which controls a neighbouring licence, has said it will not move forward with development until the legal issues surrounding the project are resolved.

The launch of exports underscores the DRC’s growing strategic importance in the global race for critical minerals while deepening China’s footprint in Africa’s mining sector.