Zijin Mining's 2025 annual report sent a clear industry signal: its lithium business has officially moved from strategic reserve to the stage of scaled monetization.

The lithium mine Zijin Mining Group Co. plans to open this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo is set to be one of the world’s biggest suppliers of the battery metal.The Chinese company – which has grown at breakneck speed to become a top producer of copper and gold – has been developing the Manono lithium project in southeastern Congo since it secured the prized deposit in 2023.

Zijin Mining released an announcement regarding its three-year (2026-2028) production plan for major mineral products and its long-term vision for 2035. The lithium carbonate equivalent production targets for 2026 and 2028 are set at 120,000 mt and 270,000-320,000 mt, respectively, representing increases of 380% and 980%-1180% compared to the 2025 production of 25,000 mt.

According to people familiar with the matter, in January 2026 officials from the White House and the U.S. State Department urged Australia’s AVZ Minerals Ltd. to sell its interest in the Manono lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to a U.S. company. The move is seen as part of Washington’s effort to strengthen control over critical-minerals supply chains. The only U.S. company publicly known to have expressed interest is KoBold Metals, though its offer is considered too low and no agreement has been reached. Meanwhile, the Congolese government revoked AVZ’s mining permit and granted part of the concession to China’s Zijin Mining Group, further complicating ownership of the project. AVZ is currently seeking to restore its rights through international arbitration.

China’s Zijin Mining plans to deliver the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s first lithium output from the Manono project in June this year, with exports set to begin immediately thereafter. The Manono project became the subject of arbitration after the Congolese government revoked the mining permit previously held by Australia’s AVZ Minerals, with the rights subsequently reassigned to Manono Lithium, a joint venture between Zijin and state-owned miner Cominiere. Zijin holds a controlling 61% stake in the venture. Under the JV arrangement, all initial production—including Cominiere’s share—will be marketed by Zijin. Although Cominiere did not contribute financially to the roughly $1 billion project cost, it will receive revenue in proportion to its equity stake.

Recently, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. issued an announcement on its three-year (2026-2028) production plan for major mineral products and its long-term vision outline for 2035. The announcement shows that the production of ore-derived zinc (lead) reached 400,000 mt in 2025, is expected to remain flat at 400,000 mt in 2026, and is planned to reach 400,000-450,000 mt in 2028.