Niambembe area is located 25 km Northeast of the village of Lulingu, Shabunda territory, South Kivu. The mining permit is approximately at 160 km to the north-west of Bukavu city in the South Kivu province, eastern DRC.

The spodumene (Lithium) bearing pegmatite outcrops over 489 mining squares with a potential inferred resource of 1.2 billion tons (presumably the largest hard rock potential worldwide) Batholith of Mesoproterozoic age, metasediments of Paleoproterozoic age.

Large spodumene bearing pegmatites are located between the contact of the batholith and metasediments. Smaller ones are hosted within the metasediments next to marginal granitic intrusion. Abundant resources of tin and tantalum, as well as variable amount of REE (Xenotime), Molybdenite are present in the area. The region used to be the top producer of Tin in the late forties up to the sixties, mined by Belgian congo companies.

Four large spodumene bearing pegmatites outcrop in the area. Two of them are larger than those at Manono (DRC) and greenbushes (Australia).

Spodumene is mostly coarser and visible in all pegmatite outcrops.

Spodumene bearing pegmatite outcrops are very massive and are present in most parts of the project area.

A preliminary geological field trip was carried out in October 2022, within the area and selected samples were sent to ALS Geochemistry (Perth, Australia). All samples displayed high lithium content.

INFRASTRUCTURES

• An operational airstrip is present within the project area where small planes can safely operate on a regular basis
• An old hydropower plant, which needs refurbishment can produce up to 26 MW of electricity, is present in the project area. This plant was built during colonial era by Belgian miners.
• Additional infrastructures includes an access road, several building from the colonial era which can be used for accommodation.

TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS

SECURITY AND SAFETY

The project area is located in South Kivu province, territory of Shabunda, near Maniema province. This area is located 560 km (road) from the war torn area of Rutshuru where the government is trying to contained M23 rebels. The current security threat is far away from our project area. Recently, MONUSCO, the UN peace mission has withdrawn from south Kivu, due to progress made towards stability and peace. Below links to reliable articles from various medias backing our claims.  No security incidents has ever been reported from our project area since the last 12 years. The project area is readily accessible and expatriates can do their work with ease, unlike in the North Kivu.

• https://monusco.unmissions.org/en/pr-monusco-ceases-operations-south-kivu-province
• https://acleddata.com/conflict-watchlist-2024/drc/
• https://theconversation.com/drc-conflict-risks-spreading-african-leaders-must-push-for-solutions-beyond-military-intervention-234693