In order to strengthen its position in the global lithium supply chain, Rio Tinto, an Australian mining giant, is currently interested in Africa. According to information relayed by Bloomberg, this company is in talks with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo about the exploitation of the southern part of the Manono

The Manono deposit in DRC is among the largest unexploited reserves of lithium in the world. Rio Tinto has positioned itself among the world's leading suppliers of white metal with the recent acquisition of Arcadium Lithium for 6.7 billion USD. This new unofficial contact with Kinshasa is Rio Tinto's first African aim for an asset whose potential is already recognized. Manono is in fact considered to be one of the largest unexploited lithium reserves in the world. It hosts at least 400 million tons of mineral resources according to AVZ Minerals. The exchanges are still at a preliminary stage, according to reports, and there is still no talk of any agreement between the two parties.