In the dusty southeastern town of Manono, deep beneath the surface lies a treasure coveted by the world—6.6 million tonnes of lithium, one of the largest known deposits on Earth. This mineral is vital for electric vehicle batteries and the global push toward renewable energy. But for the people of Manono, the promise of prosperity feels like a mirage.
Years after the project was announced with fanfare, real progress remains elusive. And local patience is wearing thin.
“We’ve seen the announcements, we’ve heard the promises—but we’re still waiting,” said Father Moïse Kiluba, a Catholic priest and respected civil society voice in Manono. “The people are growing restless. It’s becoming clear that the lithium dream is stuck in limbo.”
The Congolese government and Chinese mining giant Zijin Mining—through its partnership with the state-owned Cominière—have yet to deliver on transformative development, despite early-stage activities and feasibility studies. Some salaries have reportedly been paid, but the broader community sees little to no benefit.
High Hopes, Harsh Realities
Once a bustling tin mining hub under Belgian colonial rule, Manono has faded into obscurity. Outside of Makomeno, a relic neighborhood where Belgian settlers once lived, decay and neglect define daily life.
“We have no electricity. No running water. The roads are crumbling. Even when there’s money from the lithium companies, it doesn’t circulate—it vanishes,” Father Kiluba lamented.
Between 1919 and 1982, companies like Geomines and later Zaïre Etain mined tin extensively in the area. But when operations ceased, so did hope. Despite sitting on a mountain of strategic minerals—tin, cassiterite, and lithium—Manono has yet to experience a mining-led revival.
A Global Resource, A Local Crisis
With the world’s demand for lithium surging—driven by electric vehicles, smartphones, and energy storage—Manono should be booming. Instead, it’s caught between international interest and local inertia.
Analysts believe the delay in fully launching the lithium project could cost the Democratic Republic of Congo billions in missed revenue and development opportunities.
“The Manono project should be a flagship for Africa’s role in the clean energy transition,” said one regional economist. “Instead, it’s becoming a symbol of stalled ambition and unmet promises.”
For now, the people of Manono watch the rest of the world race toward a greener future—powered by a resource they live on top of but do not benefit from.
Unless meaningful action is taken soon, the town risks becoming yet another cautionary tale in Africa’s long history of resource wealth and local poverty.
