Resource Matters Calls for Rigorous Permitting to Boost DRC’s Lithium Industry and Local Value Creation
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds more than 44 million tons of lithium in the Manono area of Tanganyika province, making it a key global supplier of this strategic mineral.
Lithium is essential for manufacturing batteries used in computers, smartphones, solar panels, and electric vehicles, and global demand continues to grow.
The DRC is well positioned to leverage this demand to diversify and strengthen its economy, which remains heavily reliant on the extractive sector.
To do so effectively, the country must implement a rigorous and transparent permitting process for mining operations, according to the NGO Resource Matters, which advocates for equitable resource distribution.
“By awarding mining rights through competitive tenders that assess investors not only on the speed of project execution but also on their commitments to local value addition, the government can align resource development with its broader industrialization goals,” Resource Matters writes.
The NGO also emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship and the protection of human rights in the permitting process.
Resource Matters recommends integrating transparent licensing rules that include requirements for local processing, co-investment in supporting infrastructure, and profit-sharing arrangements with local communities.
“Such measures would help the DRC avoid the commodity dependency model seen in its copper and cobalt sectors, while laying the foundation for a national lithium and battery materials industry,” the NGO concludes.
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