China's Zijin has begun exporting lithium concentrate from its Manono project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Reuters reported. Shipments started in June as planned and are all bound for China.

The shipments mark Congo's first lithium exports. Manono, one of the world's largest undeveloped hard-rock lithium deposits, has been at the centre of a legal dispute since Congo revoked Australian miner AVZ Minerals' permit and transferred part of the project to Manono Lithium. 

The venture is 54.9% owned by Zijin, with state miner Cominiere holding 35.1% and the Congolese government the remaining 10%.  A mining executive said initial exports were likely trial shipments after technical issues delayed commissioning of the processing plant. 

One trader said exports began in June but have remained limited, estimating volumes at just a few thousand tonnes, while another said the mine has already produced tens of thousands of tonnes of concentrate, much of which is still in transit and is unlikely to arrive in China before October. 

Zijin aims to produce 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent from Manono in 2026. Designed to process 5 million tonnes of ore annually, the project is expected to produce around 1 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate each year.Editor/Min Jing