[Turning Point in Seven-Year Dispute Over Manono Lithium Mine in DRC: AVZ Gains Arbitration Support, Zijin Mining Accelerates Lithium Mine Development] Recently, Australian mining company AVZ Minerals achieved a critical victory in an international arbitration against the DRC government and China's Zijin Mining regarding the rights to the Manono lithium mine. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Court ruled that DRC state-owned company Cominière must pay €39.1 million in damages for unilaterally terminating its joint venture agreement with AVZ. The Manono lithium mine is one of the largest hard rock lithium mines in the world. AVZ obtained exploration rights in 2018, but in 2023, the DRC Ministry of Mines revoked its license and granted it to a Zijin Mining subsidiary, prompting AVZ to protest and initiate arbitration proceedings. Although AVZ won the arbitration, it faces financial difficulties, while Zijin Mining is accelerating the project, with production expected to commence in Q1 2026.