AVZ Minerals to Resume Legal Proceedings Against DRC Over Manono Lithium Mine Dispute

Published: Jun 27, 2025 13:49

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On the 21st, Australia's AVZ Minerals stated that due to the failure to reach a settlement in the dispute over the Manono lithium mine rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it would resume legal proceedings against the DRC government. The original development permit for the mine was revoked by the DRC in 2023 due to slow progress and was later awarded to a subsidiary of Zijin Mining. AVZ has already filed for arbitration with the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Although it had previously suspended the proceedings at the request of the US government for mediation, it has now decided to resume the ICSID arbitration due to the DRC's failure to respond to negotiations.

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