The Democratic Republic of Congo approved a decree adding lithium to its list of strategic minerals, raising royalties to 10%.
Miners will now pay 10% instead of the previous 3.5% rate for non-ferrous metals.
The Council of Ministers approved including lithium, tantalum, niobium, tungsten, uranium, and rare earths. The designation triples the royalty rate for lithium miners.
Cobalt, germanium, and columbo-tantalite already carried the strategic mineral designation.
Congo hosts one of the world's largest hard-rock lithium deposits in its southeast region, being mined for the first time this year.
China's Zijin Mining Group plans to commission its Manono lithium project in June. KoBold Metals launched the world's biggest lithium exploration project in April.
The new royalty structure applies to all lithium mining operations in the country.
