The Congolese subsidiary of Australia’s AVZ Minerals has lost one of its exploration permits in Manono territory, Tanganyika province, according to a list of forfeiture decisions published on March 19, 2026 by the Mining Registry (CAMI).

The permit, PR 4029, is held by AVZ Minerals Congo SARLU and covers 79 mining blocks. It was forfeited due to non-payment of annual surface fees.

Under the current mining code, the holder of a forfeited permit has 30 days from notification to file an appeal. AVZ Minerals has not publicly commented on the forfeiture of PR 4029 or indicated whether it plans to appeal.

PR 4029 is part of the Manono Extension Project, which AVZ has been developing around the main Manono lithium deposit. The project includes two exploration permits, PR 4029 and PR 4030, covering a combined area of about 242.25 square kilometres.

According to AVZ, the permits were intended to identify potential extensions of the deposit, particularly toward the southwest and northeast, based on geological indicators suggesting mineralization may extend beyond the known main zone.

The forfeiture comes amid an ongoing dispute over the Manono project. The two extension permits partly surround the area covered by mining permit PE 15775, awarded to Manono Lithium SAS, a joint venture between China’s Zijin Mining and state-owned Cominière.

AVZ continues to challenge, in proceedings before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the loss of its rights over former permit PR 13359, which was later converted into mining permit PE 15775.

Despite the dispute, development of the Manono project by Zijin and Cominière is continuing. The partners are targeting commissioning by end-June 2026, with construction of mining and processing infrastructure ongoing. Investment in this first phase is approaching $1 billion.

Timothée Manoke