DR Congo's first lithium export certification
Reports dated July 25, 2026, said Zijin Mining received the first official export certification for lithium ores in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The certification was issued by CEEC, the country's state certification body, clearing the way for regular shipments from the Manono project. The first certified batch departed through the port of Kalemie, with regional Governor Kitungwa attending the loading ceremony and underscoring the operation's strategic importance.
Zijin's transition to commercial lithium exports
The certification completes Zijin's shift from trial shipments initiated in June to regular export operations, according to the reports. Processing facilities at Manono were commissioned in May, and the deposit is described as an exceptionally large high-grade pegmatite lithium resource. Zijin, historically focused on gold and copper, is broadening its exposure to energy-transition metals, with the Congo milestone demonstrating the company's ability to bring complex mining projects in logistically challenging markets to export readiness.
California geothermal lithium potential
US Department of Energy research cited in the July 25, 2026 reports said current geothermal production in California's Salton Sea region could support recovery of about 127,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) annually. Geothermal plants in the area bring roughly 21,500 tonnes of lithium-rich brine to the surface each year before reinjecting it underground. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and partners are studying how the resource can be recovered sustainably while preserving long-term geothermal power output.
Direct lithium extraction and reservoir modeling
Researchers are testing reinjection strategies across a 30-year forecast. In one modeled scenario that removes 95 percent of lithium from produced brine starting January 1, 2024, recovery declines from 0.8 to 0.3 kilograms per second. Currently proposed geothermal energy and lithium recovery operations would require about 3 percent of the region's historically available water supply, according to the February 2025 Lithium Valley Project presented at the Stanford Geothermal Workshop.
Market reaction and broader context
Zijin's shares closed at €3.63 on Friday, down 3.65 percent on the day but up 9.83 percent over the week, with the company valued at roughly €35.87 billion, the reports said. The Congo export milestone comes amid wider activity in the global mining sector, including merger discussions involving Anglo American and Teck Resources and a strong earnings update from Hindustan Zinc.
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