On April 21, Zijin Mining released its first-quarter performance report. According to the announcement, lithium is accelerating its role as Zijin Mining's "third growth pole," with the company achieving a lithium carbonate equivalent output of 16,000 tonnes in Q1.
Since 2021, Zijin Mining has seized the major trend of profound adjustments in metal demand driven by the global energy structure transition. Through a series of acquisitions, the company has established a lithium resource portfolio of two salt lakes and two hard-rock mines, with reserves exceeding 18 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, placing it among the top tier of global lithium resource companies.
Currently, construction of the world-class Manono Lithium Project in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is advancing steadily, with the main processes of mining and beneficiation (heavy media) now fully operational. The project is expected to be completed and commissioned by June of this year. According to Zijin Mining's plan, the company expects to achieve lithium carbonate equivalent output of 120,000 tonnes in 2026, with the potential to increase to 270,000-320,000 tonnes by 2028. By then, the company will become one of the world's largest lithium producers, and the lithium segment will emerge as a new core profit engine.
Edited by Cassie Li, lixiangying@mysteel.com
