Renewable energy at what cost? A closer look at DRC’s nascent lithium sector

An investigation into the Democratic Republic of Congo's nascent lithium industry reveals significant risks related to governance, transparency, and environmental impact. The report highlights that mining concessions near Manono are controlled by a small group of individuals with close ties to government officials and former President Kabila. It warns that without urgent due diligence and adherence to international standards, the green energy transition could repeat the mistakes of fossil fuel extraction by undermining local communities and the environment.

• The lithium sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo faces serious governance, environmental, and social risks that could undermine the industry if not addressed, particularly as global lithium demand is projected to increase up to 40-fold by 2040.
• Mining concessions near Manono are controlled by a small group of individuals with close business ties, including a current government official and people reportedly linked to former President Kabila, such as Mr Cong Maohuai.
• There is a lack of transparency regarding beneficial ownership for a key company involved in lithium deals, and local communities have unclear or differing understandings of the projects' environmental and social risks.
• Three specific companies—AVZ Minerals Limited, Critical Resources Limited, and Tantalex Resources Corporation—have announced plans for lithium exploration or production in the Manono area.

APA

Global Witness (n.d.). Renewable energy at what cost? A closer look at DRC’s nascent lithium sector. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/renewable-energy-at-what-cost-a-closer-look-at-drcs-nascent-lithium-sector/

Chicago

Global Witness. Renewable energy at what cost? A closer look at DRC’s nascent lithium sector. n.d. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/renewable-energy-at-what-cost-a-closer-look-at-drcs-nascent-lithium-sector/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Witness |title=Renewable energy at what cost? A closer look at DRC’s nascent lithium sector |url=https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/renewable-energy-at-what-cost-a-closer-look-at-drcs-nascent-lithium-sector/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalwitnessndrenewable, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Renewable energy at what cost? A closer look at DRC’s nascent lithium sector}}, institution = {Global Witness}, url = {https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/transition-minerals/renewable-energy-at-what-cost-a-closer-look-at-drcs-nascent-lithium-sector/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }