DRC : The mining company AVZ Minerals, operating lithium in Manono, has no project focused on the construction of the battery manufacturing plant in Haut – Katanga

On Saturday December 18, 2021, the Interim Governor of Tanganyika Province Samba KAYABALA MONY made the trip to Manono, capital of the territory that bears the same name and located 450km southwest of the city of Kalemie.

The number 1 of the province of Tanganyika went there to launch the workshop organized by the mining company AVZ as part of the popularization of its vast project on the exploitation of lithium in this part of the Province of Tanganyika.

This session of the presentation of the AVZ project and to which were also invited the provincial deputies members of the office of the provincial assembly led by the Honorable Virginie Nkulu Nemba and those from the territory of Manono, the provincial minister of mines BANGU KABULOJohn and many other personalities took place in the great hall of one of the buildings of the Catholic Church.

Civil society, women’s organizations and those of young people, in short all the representatives of the community were present.

In his presentation, Balthazar TSHISEKE, deputy general manager of the company Datcom and representative of AVZ in the DRC indicated that this company has no project related to the construction of any battery manufacturing plant in Lubumbashi in Haut Katanga. .

« I thank the provincial authority and the delegation accompanying them here in Manono for participating in this workshop to clarify certain gray areas and inform the community through their representatives about the AVZ Minerals project » declared Balthazar TSHISEKE.

According to him, interest in lithium mining in Manono dates back to 2016

It was in this same year that the determination was born on the exploitation of lithium in Manono, where the largest deposit in the world and high grade is located.

And since then, the company AVZ Minerals has obtained the exploration permit 13359 on which its activities are deployed.

Aggressive exploration with 5 drills has started in a concession 13.5 km long and comprising 6 parts. He said.

With the construction of the first module of the lithium processing plant in Manono by the year 2023, after obtaining the operating permit (PE), AVZ Minerals via Dathcom, is engaged in the operation of the Lithium value chain.

« It is not a manufacturing industry and therefore battery manufacturing is not in our value chain » added Balthazar TSHISEKE.

And with regard to the manufacture of batteries, the representative of AVZ in the DRC indicated that lithium alone is not enough.

AVZ, via Dathcom, plans, as soon as the EP is obtained, to start importing the plant’s construction equipment, according to the different modules, starting with SC6, passing through the primary sulphate, towards the lithium hydroxides and why not get to Cathodes and Anodes.

This plant, which could be operational in 2023, could create 500 direct jobs and 2,000 to 5,000 indirect jobs.

« The daily production will be 1600 tonnes of SC6 » He added.

During this workshop, several other concerns raised by the elected provincial representatives and the audience were answered.

At this workshop, the Interim Governor of the province of Tanganyika Samba KAYABALA MONY indicated that the holding of this meeting was capital in the sense that it had the aim of removing the ambiguity or better dispelling the misunderstanding on the issue of ‘mining in Manono, especiallythat of lithium.

Shortly after, the provincial authority went to visit the first phase of the concession of this mining company, that of the hard rock not far from the city of Manono.

The head of the provincial executive also visited the depot where the lithium test cores are stored before visiting the Camp.

Under construction which could house the builders of the strategically classified metal processing plant.

At the end of this visit, Balthazar TSHISEKE, requests the appropriation of this project by the population of TANGANYIKA in general and that of Manono in particular.

Satisfied with the implementation of this gigantic project for the well-being of the population of TANGANYIKA, the Acting Governor calls on the population of his jurisdiction to appease.

SAMBA KAYABALA MONY specifies that the AVZ company is not going to build the battery manufacturing plant in Lubumbashi, because its mission is none other than that of mining.

And at the current stage of the project, just with the research permit with which AVZ has already injected approximately US $ 70 million, many social actions have already been carried out in favor of the population of Manono by this company.

It is in particular assistance to farmers with an average of 5 tonnes of seed already for this cropping season, support for the vaccination campaign, emergency interventions and even demining of the entire city of Manono.

The implementation of this project in TANGANYIKA will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the economy of this province.

Peter SHABA