Zijin to start Congo’s first lithium production at Manono in June 2026

Zijin Mining, in partnership with Congolese state miner Cominiere, is set to begin lithium production in June 2026 from the Manono deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project is notable both for its scale and for the legal and geopolitical context around reassigned mining rights. If production begins as planned, Manono would represent a major new African lithium supply source during a period of volatile prices and heightened strategic competition for critical minerals.