As the global energy transition gathers pace, a major lithium mine in the heart of Africa is entering the final countdown to production. Zijin Mining Group said on March 20 that its Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is scheduled to begin operations on June 30, positioning the company as a significant new player in the global lithium supply chain.
According to Zijin, the Manono project is designed to process 5 million tonnes of ore annually, producing 500,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate and ultimately reaching an annual capacity of 130,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. That scale places it among the top tier of hard-rock lithium operations worldwide.
Martin Jackson, head of battery materials markets at CRU Group, said the output “would put Manono in the highest echelons” of hard-rock lithium assets, with only a few giant mines in Australia capable of producing more. Chris Williams, an analyst at Adamas Intelligence, estimates that at full capacity, the mine will produce between 850,000 and 875,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate per year.
The project’s global significance becomes even clearer when considering market share. CRU data shows that if Manono reaches full capacity by 2028, it would account for about 5% of global mined lithium supply — a substantial share for a single operation.
For Zijin, Manono represents the latest milestone in an aggressive expansion strategy. The company, which built its reputation in copper and gold, has grown rapidly through a series of strategic acquisitions to become one of the world’s top miners. In the DRC, Zijin already holds a 39.6% stake in the massive Kamoa-Kakula copper complex and operates another copper mine. The Manono project, with a total investment of $1.4 billion, is 54.9% owned by Zijin through an overseas subsidiary, with the DRC state holding the remainder. The project moved swiftly from a partnership agreement in October 2023 to receiving a mining license in September 2024, and is now on track for production.
Manono’s upcoming startup also underscores Africa’s growing importance in the global lithium supply chain. In recent years, Zimbabwe has led the continent’s emergence as a key source of lithium for China’s dominant battery industry. With Manono, Zijin joins Ganfeng Lithium’s Goulamina project in Mali as part of a “dual-core” African supply base.
Competition among these projects is already intensifying. Williams at Adamas Intelligence noted that if Goulamina completes its planned expansion, it could ultimately surpass Manono in scale, suggesting the pecking order among Africa’s top lithium mines remains fluid. Meanwhile, a recent ban on lithium concentrate exports from Zimbabwe highlights the policy risks that can affect supply from the region. CRU’s Jackson said that with this backdrop, Manono’s imminent entry into production “comes at a very tight moment for the market,” amplifying its potential impact on global supply-demand dynamics.
Yet the mine’s path to production has been complicated by a protracted dispute over ownership. Australia’s AVZ Minerals Ltd. previously held exploration rights to the area and was the first to identify Manono’s vast lithium potential. However, the DRC government revoked AVZ’s license in 2022 and subsequently awarded the northeastern part of the concession to Zijin. AVZ has since initiated international arbitration proceedings against the Congolese state in an effort to reclaim the entire permit, a legal battle that remains unresolved.
Geopolitical factors have also come into play. According to Bloomberg, Trump administration officials earlier this year urged an AVZ executive during a White House meeting to sell the company’s interest in Manono to a U.S. firm, which could then develop a second mine. Additionally, KoBold Metals — an AI-driven exploration startup backed by Bill Gates and Marc Andreessen — has set its sights on the southern portion of Manono, adding another layer of strategic interest to the asset.
So will the June startup of Zijin’s Manono project reshape the global lithium supply landscape?
On one hand, the addition of 130,000 tonnes LCE of annual capacity will have a material impact on global supply-demand fundamentals, particularly at a time when lithium prices are near cyclical lows and some higher-cost producers are being squeezed out. Manono’s low-cost, open-pit conditions give it the flexibility to ramp up even during a downturn.
But whether it truly reshapes the market depends on several variables. The outcome of the legal dispute, the stability of the DRC’s policy environment, and the project’s ability to execute its planned expansion will all determine Manono’s ultimate share of the global supply pie. Meanwhile, capacity expansions from Australia’s hard-rock mines, South America’s salars, and other African projects continue to unfold.
What is certain is that when the first batch of lithium ore is produced at Manono this June, the global lithium supply chain will gain a new and significant node. For Zijin, the success of this project will also be a key test of its ability to transform from a copper and gold powerhouse into a full-spectrum player in the metals of the energy transition.
