AVZ Minerals joins new DRC Battery Council to underpin country’s sustainable battery minerals chain
AVZ Minerals is developing its Manono lithium and tin project in the DRC to become an “industry leading” ESG credentialled operation that is among the lowest carbon emitting hard rock mines worldwide.
Advanced lithium explorer AVZ Minerals (ASX: AVZ) will join the new Democratic Republic of Africa Battery Council as part of its strategy to be a critical part of the country’s sustainable battery minerals chain for the global electrical vehicle sector.
The DRC Government recently hosted the DRC-Africa Business Forum to promote development of battery, EV and renewable energy in the DRC and other African countries.
AVZ presented at the forum and showcased its flagship Manono lithium and tin project.
Representing AVZ was subsidiary Dathcom Mining’s corporate affairs director Serge Ngandu, who completed the presentation and participated in a panel discussion with dignitaries.
Developing DRC battery minerals industry
While at the forum, AVZ and key stakeholders including the DRC Government signed commitments for developing a battery minerals industry in the country.
“The signing of this pledge provides a strong platform for the development of a battery minerals industry in the DRC, which AVZ wholeheartedly supports, and is also an incredibly significant development as we enter the final stages of securing the mining licences and permits for the Manono project,” AVZ managing director Nigel Ferguson said.
He added the company was “excited” to be the “only aspiring mining company” that was invited to join the newly formed DRC Battery Council.
Presiding over the DRC Battery Council will be DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the executive security for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and other significant organisations.
DRC Battery Council
The newly formed DRC Battery Council will be a public-private partnership charged with supporting the DRC Government in ensuring the roadmap and outcomes from the forum are implemented.
This will involve implementing a battery value chain that is transformative, sustainable, innovative, socially and environmentally responsible, while remaining economically viable.
Manono lithium-tin project
AVZ is developing the Manono lithium-tin project in the DRC, which hosts the world’s largest and highest-grade undeveloped hard rock lithium mineral resource of 400 million tonnes at 1.65% lithium.
Within that is a reserve of 132Mt at 1.63% lithium.
AVZ’s strategy is to develop Manono into a clean, sustainable source of lithium for the EV battery value chain.
It aims for Manono to be one of the lowest carbon-emitting hard rock mines worldwide and possess “industry leading” ESG credentials.