What AVZ MINERALS does

AVZ Minerals Limited is an Australian mineral exploration and development company (founded 2012) headquartered in West Perth that is developing the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The flagship Manono Project covers 188km² under mining permit PR13359, with AVZ holding a 75% interest through subsidiary Dathcom Mining SA and DRC state-owned enterprise Cominiere holding the remaining 25%. The project hosts one of the world's largest undeveloped hard-rock lithium deposits, including the Roche Dure Mineral Resource of 400 million tonnes grading 1.65% Li2O with secondary tin (715ppm Sn) and tantalum (34ppm Ta) mineralisation, lithium mineralisation confirmed along a 13km+ pegmatite strike, and an exploration target of 1Bt to 1.2Bt at 1.25-1.5% Li2O across the broader Manono district. A Definitive Feasibility Study has been completed with planned production capacity of approximately 700,000 tonnes per annum and a $545.5 million development capital envelope.

The company also holds a 100% interest in the surrounding Manono Extension Project (242.25km²) via permits PR 4029 and 4030. AVZ is pre-revenue and plans to monetise the asset through lithium, tin, and tantalum concentrate sales to battery manufacturers and commodity traders once Manono enters production; CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology), AVZ's largest shareholder, holds a Manono lithium offtake agreement. Western governments engaged in critical-mineral supply-chain diversification represent a secondary stakeholder segment given China's 60-70% share of global lithium processing capacity.

The business is currently in a contested legal and regulatory posture: the DRC revoked lithium exploration permit PR 4029 in 2023 and the northern half of the Manono concession was awarded to a Zijin Mining / Cominiere joint venture, and AVZ's core mining permit has been challenged. AVZ has initiated ICSID and ICC arbitration and in July 2025 won ICC proceedings against Dathomir, legally consolidating its JV interests. ASIC has sued AVZ and two directors over disclosure failures and the company has been delisted from the ASX. The December 2025 US-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement and a January 2026 White House meeting regarding a potential sale to KoBold Metals underscore the geopolitical dimension of the asset.

Name

AVZ MINERALS

Legal name

AVZ Minerals Limited

Website

https://avzminerals.com.au

Company type

Public

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AVZ Minerals is an Australian pre-revenue mineral exploration company developing the Manono lithium and tin project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, hosting one of the world's largest undeveloped hard-rock lithium deposits. The asset is currently subject to permit disputes and international arbitration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lithium and critical minerals mining

NAICS

Mining (except Oil and Gas) (212)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000)

akta.pro primary industry

Exploration & Resource Development (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA), Mine Development & Processing EPC (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAM)

Keywords

• Lithium exploration
• Hard-rock mining
• Mineral development
• Spodumene production
• LCT pegmatite deposits

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AVZ Minerals is a pre-production mineral exploration and development company advancing the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its core asset is the Roche Dure LCT pegmatite deposit — one of the world's largest undeveloped hard-rock lithium resources — with planned production of spodumene concentrate alongside tin and tantalum by-products. Revenue will be generated from product sales to battery manufacturers and commodity traders under offtake agreements once mining commences.

Product overview

AVZ Minerals operates as a mineral exploration and development company with two primary project assets: the Manono Project (75% interest) and the Manono Extension Project (100% interest). Both projects focus on lithium-rich pegmatite deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The flagship Manono Project contains the Roche Dure deposit with 400 million tonnes of mineral resources grading 1.65% Li2O, while the surrounding Extension Project covers additional exploration permit areas. The company is not a software or technology products company—it develops physical mining assets rather than digital products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Manono Lithium and Tin Project A lithium-rich LCT (lithium, caesium, tantalum) pegmatite deposit located in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, covering 188km² under permit PR13359. AVZ holds a 75% interest in the project (with 25% held by DRC state-owned Cominiere). The project hosts the Roche Dure Mineral Resource of 400 million tonnes grading 1.65% Li2O, 715ppm Sn and 34ppm Ta, plus multi-commodity tin and tantalum resources. Planned production capacity is ~700,000 tonnes/year with a US$545.5M investment. Customers will be lithium battery manufacturers and commodity traders via long-term offtake.
• Manono Extension Project An exploration-stage lithium-pegmatite asset comprising two granted exploration permits (PRs 4029 and 4030) covering 242.25km² surrounding the Manono Project licence, including SW Extension and NE Extension targets with potential pegmatite strike extensions. AVZ holds 100% of the asset. Intended end-use is incremental spodumene, tin and tantalum resources to extend mine life and/or expand throughput at the planned Manono operation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 million tonnes grading 1.65% Li2O mineral resource at Roche Dure
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KoBold MetalscoreOthers · 21 January 2026KoBold Metals, a California-based AI exploration startup backed by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Marc Andreessen, is the only known US bidder for AVZ's Manono claim. Trump administration officials urged AVZ during January 21 White House meeting to sell its claim to KoBold. KoBold has offered a price AVZ executives consider inadequate. Active legal dispute exists over licensing rights with AVZ.
• Zijin MiningminorOthers · 30 October 2023China's Zijin Mining holds the northern half of the Manono concession after Congo awarded part of the site to Zijin's joint venture with state miner Cominiere. Zijin is set to begin production in mid-2026, creating direct geopolitical competition. This represents a disputed ownership situation rather than a partnership, with ongoing arbitration between AVZ and Zijin.
• Cominiere (La Congolaise d'Exploitation Minière SA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRC state-owned enterprise holding 25% interest in the Manono Project. AVZ holds 75% and is responsible for funding expenditure to completion of feasibility study and decision to mine. Cominiere is a partner in Dathcom Mining SA, the operating company. Multiple ongoing legal disputes exist between AVZ and Cominiere.
• Dathcom Mining SAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture operating company for the Manono Project, incorporated in the DRC. AVZ holds 75% through AVZI, with Cominiere holding 25%. Dathcom manages stakeholder engagement and operational activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Syrah Resources: Australian-listed (ASX) developer of natural graphite and battery materials with a similar critical-minerals, single-flagship-asset profile. Both companies target downstream battery/EV supply chains and are pursuing vertical integration via downstream processing, making regulatory and offtake milestones equally decisive.
• Liontown Resources: Australian lithium developer (Kathleen Valley project) with a tier-1 hard-rock spodumene resource advancing through DFS and into construction. Closely comparable pre-production phase, ASX listing, hard-rock lithium focus, and dependence on offtake with major battery makers.
• Pilbara Minerals: ASX-listed hard-rock spodumene producer (Pilgangoora) operating one of the world's largest lithium operations. Closest pure-play Australian lithium peer; serves as the production-stage benchmark against which AVZ's pre-production Manono resource is evaluated.
• Allkem: Global lithium chemicals producer (formerly Orocobre) with Mt Cattlin hard-rock lithium and Salar de Olaroz brine. Acquired by Arcadium; competes in both spodumene and downstream lithium chemicals — making it a relevant midstream benchmark for AVZ's planned Manono production.
• Sigma Lithium: Canadian-listed developer of the Grota do Cirilo hard-rock lithium project in Brazil. Comparable pre-revenue-to-early-production lithium developer positioning into the Western battery supply chain; subject to similar geopolitical pressure to onshore critical-minerals capacity.

Broad incumbents

• Mineral Resources (MinRes): Major diversified Australian mining services and resources company operating the Mt Marion lithium JV (with Ganfeng). Provides a relevant benchmark on hard-rock lithium development, processing, and offtake in the Australian-listed context.
• Ganfeng Lithium: One of the world's largest lithium chemicals producers with interests spanning Australian, Chinese, South American, and African assets (including Mt Marion JV with MinRes). Comparable vertically-integrated lithium strategy and direct counterparty exposure for global offtake negotiations.
• Tianqi Lithium: Major Chinese lithium chemicals producer and JV partner in the Greenbushes mine (Australia), the world's largest hard-rock lithium operation. Comparable downstream integration model and a key competitor in any offtake tendering for Manono production.
• Albemarle Corporation: Global largest lithium producer with diversified hard-rock (Greenbushes stake via Tianqi) and brine (Atacama) assets plus specialty chemicals. Relevant top-end benchmark for tier-1 hard-rock lithium operations and a likely ultimate-of-buyer for any production from Manono.

Others

• Zijin Mining: Chinese state-affiliated major that holds the northern half of the Manono concession after the DRC revoked AVZ's permit in 2023. Sets up to begin production in mid-2026 and is the principal disputed counterparty in AVZ's ongoing arbitration — directly material to AVZ's economics and legal standing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AvzMinerals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AVZ MINERALS