I agree.China have made no effort to conceal they want to control the worlds rare earth and critical minerals, which includes lithium. They have been buying up lots of mines from very early on. They wouldn't want one of the worlds biggest deposits not under their control would they? They don't really care about fair or legal. Whatever it takes is more like it.
Well it's safe to say no decision will be made re Manono until that trip is completed . Could also be one reason why Zijin delayed ICC . I wonder if the largest /richest lithium deposit on the planet comes up in conversation ? Some encouragement perhaps for Felix to make the right decision . You couldn't script this sh1t show to be any worse if you tried . Here's Nigel in the DRC busting his f--king balls ,with no luck, trying to make contact with Felix while Felix jumps on his Jet , flys 11,267km to meet with the CCP . Plan B Nige
You reckon Felix is just going to China to practice his chopstick skills?I agree.
But what's that got to do with the DRC president going to China?
"Perhaps the Congolese don’t yet get how strategic Manono is." That would be the understatement of this whole shitshow John!not exactly a good sign for Tshisekedi to make a visit to Beijing just four months out from when official electioneering usually kicks off.
But who knows what the strategy is since DRC is at the centre of a power struggle between Washington and Beijing.
my impression is, that inside the contradictions between the IGF hard line (basic governance) and the mysterious resistance to true political fall out that should be a consequence of outing corruption, is that Tshisekedi needs above all loyalty more than anything to keep his political Union intact as the country moves to election mode.
I may miss some of the intricacies to how Tshisekedi is encumbered or compromised but I think considering that IGF did what it did it did so knowing it’s throat would be protected, is clear as daylight.
Further, to weaken Chinese hegemony (by revisiting previous regime contracts) means to weaken the old brigade, which by the way, are still there, Mupande, one of the most obvious ‘barnacles’ yet to be ‘scraped.’ So, Tshisekedi is likely heading to Beijing on invitation. Beijing seems to have influence and something has to be brokered I suspect. The biggest piece would be the US proposal for EVs. And what Beijing can do for Tshisekedi.
Other than that I don’t know, as the Secretary of State Pompeo (once CIA elite always CIA elite) ordained Tshisekedi
4 years ago. How does the power politics work has me mystified. There appears no return to heavy hand days of Mobutu.
But US is funding projects in DRC. Even the Japanese are turning up.
Diversity is key for Congolese people.
Perhaps the Congolese don’t yet get how strategic Manono is. What if the Chinese get it.
What does that do for Australian lithium?
It might be safer and easier for FT to make his call on Manono after the election ? Is he caught between a rock and hard place ? Obviously AVZ does not have the luxury of waiting until the election to find out . Nigel will need to make a call well before then . IMOnot exactly a good sign for Tshisekedi to make a visit to Beijing just four months out from when official electioneering usually kicks off.
But who knows what the strategy is since DRC is at the centre of a power struggle between Washington and Beijing.
my impression is, that inside the contradictions between the IGF hard line (basic governance) and the mysterious resistance to true political fall out that should be a consequence of outing corruption, is that Tshisekedi needs above all loyalty more than anything to keep his political Union intact as the country moves to election mode.
I may miss some of the intricacies to how Tshisekedi is encumbered or compromised but I think considering that IGF did what it did it did so knowing it’s throat would be protected, is clear as daylight.
Further, to weaken Chinese hegemony (by revisiting previous regime contracts) means to weaken the old brigade, which by the way, are still there, Mupande, one of the most obvious ‘barnacles’ yet to be ‘scraped.’ So, Tshisekedi is likely heading to Beijing on invitation. Beijing seems to have influence and something has to be brokered I suspect. The biggest piece would be the US proposal for EVs. And what Beijing can do for Tshisekedi.
Other than that I don’t know, as the Secretary of State Pompeo (once CIA elite always CIA elite) ordained Tshisekedi
4 years ago. How does the power politics work has me mystified. There appears no return to heavy hand days of Mobutu.
But US is funding projects in DRC. Even the Japanese are turning up.
Diversity is key for Congolese people.
Perhaps the Congolese don’t yet get how strategic Manono is. What if the Chinese get it.
What does that do for Australian lithium?
Nailed it Nut - I just didn't want to say it! You've got absolutely no filter bro!Fucking great
The Nige is in the DRC and FT fucks off to China to visit the grand masters of the brown paper bag
How much worse does this shit get?
Mate, it's pretty much all window dressing in the lead-up to the election. If he was going to do something worthwhile about corruption and Chinese looting, he would have done it already. He's in China seeking financial aid, and maybe arms to manage the deteriorating security issue in the north east.Or maybe FT is playing US and China off against each other.
Maybe the winner is already decided.
Or maybe there are different winners depending upon which issue FT thinks he's deciding.
Maybe the rest is window dressing so that the loser does not also lose face.
Or maybe it depends on the weight of his cargo on the return trip.
Ifs, buts and maybes.
T'was ever thus.
Bearing in mind there’s likely another level chess game at work with the US surely backing AVZ indirectly for its own interests, Nigel I think just needs to keep marshalling on the rights front possibly with some compromise but how to compromise with thieves? Kinshasa allies what’s left are distancing themselves for political not legal reasons.It might be safer and easier for FT to make his call on Manono after the election ? Is he caught between a rock and hard place ? Obviously AVZ does not have the luxury of waiting until the election to find out . Nigel will need to make a call well before then . IMO
If the ICC cases are needed for FT to make a decision then forget about it . Nigel will need to call Bull Sh1t well before then . Before the election . FT can make a captains call . He has all the evidence he needs to hand the ML to AVZ/DATH right now . Stalling on account of ICC verdicts which are based on BS anyway is not acceptable . Nigel will need to make his own Captain's Call . That is , well this is obviously going round in circles with no end in sight . Time to put the Big Guns in front of the ICC and do it before the election . This sh1t show has to end and it has to end soon . On AVZ terms . (hopefully wont be needed and all ends well) .Mate, it's pretty much all window dressing in the lead-up to the election. If he was going to do something worthwhile about corruption and Chinese looting, it would have been done already. He's in China seeking financial aid, and maybe arms to manage the deteriorating security issue in the north east.
The other thing is that it's now been almost three months since the decree awarding Dathcom the ML was repealed. If Felix's govt was going to take it further, it would have been done so already. Me thinks that the govt is unable to pull the pin on Dathcom's exploration licence because of the multi-billion dollar damages claim that would surely follow.
Given the undeniable evidence of widespread govt and Chinese corruption, and that AVZ followed the mining code, the DRC would have a hard time convincing any ICC court that its decisions were anything but corrupt and illegal. I think the DRC govt is prepared to wait for the conga line of ICC cases to run their course, regardless of opportunity cost and lost revenue.
Just thinking out aloud.
Cheers
F
Cobalt, Copper and #lithium The #USA and Australia against the Chinese monopoly . China controls 60% of the minerals of #RDC , often accused of corruption to obtain contracts, of non-respect of workers' rights , how will it defend itself?
And knowing that the Manono mine has 500,000,000 lithium reserves at $80,000 per ton! A mine for which "The Australians and the Chinese are fighting over control...to the misfortune of the Congolese.
@KiengeKki
No, let's be clear, it's the Chinese who want to bribe it after the Australians have certified at their expense.
"Perhaps the Congolese don’t yet get how strategic Manono is." That would be the understatement of this whole shitshow John!
If the ICC cases are needed for FT to make a decision then forget about it . Nigel will need to call Bull Sh1t well before then . Before the election . FT can make a captains call . He has all the evidence he needs to hand the ML to AVZ/DATH right now . Stalling on account of ICC verdicts which are based on BS anyway is not acceptable . Nigel will need to make his own Captain's Call . That is , well this is obviously going round in circles with no end in sight . Time to put the Big Guns in front of the ICC and do it before the election . This sh1t show has to end and it has to end soon . On AVZ terms . (hopefully wont be needed ) .
It might be safer and easier for FT to make his call on Manono after the election ? Is he caught between a rock and hard place ? Obviously AVZ does not have the luxury of waiting until the election to find out . Nigel will need to make a call well before then . IMO
With a view to save the Manono project. Nature to paralyse the exploitation of lithium and to prevent the state from channeling the products resulting from the mining licence. Given the need and urgency.I think the DRC government is prepared to wait for the negotiated outcome.