A reasonable amount of PLS/lithium hydroxide is supposed to go to the DRC battery plant (the DRC of course hopes well in excess of 50%), which could be considered a non Chinese Offtake customer.
The Chinese Offtake customers are not long term customers, some contracts end I believe after 3 years.
Question which has to be asked, how much SC6 will the DRC allow to be exported, without export penalties.
Let's face it the DRC is serious about establishing a local battery industry and it can be expected that plant will get priority over China based battery manufacturers (in the long run).
So a local battery manufacturing industry, not only helps to reduce transport costs.
It creates local employment and diversifies customer base as well.
The follow on of an EV battery, is an EV car plant for the African continent (which is a huge market, and don't forget Inga III, the huge Congo river and cheap fuel for EV cars).
If Zijin would be allowed to wurm its way into the equation (with a Chinese majority in the structure of Dathcom, as they so happily explained in the Chinese newspapers) the DRC will find it difficult to get there fair share of the lithium produced.
VB ..... the body's life blood.
Is all about Vitamin B, it makes your hair grow.
