Huayou, seeking control of Ghana’s Ewoyaa lithium mine, faces scrutiny over compensation delays in Congo

Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, the Chinese company seeking to acquire Atlantic Lithium, the developer of Ghana’s Ewoyaa lithium mine, is facing scrutiny in the Democratic Republic of Congo over delayed compensation to communities affected by pollution from one of its subsidiaries. Congo’s mines ministry said on November 6, 2026 that Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM) remains obliged to pay $6 million to affected communities, despite financial difficulties and a suspension of its operations, Reuters reported.

The development comes as Huayou advances its investment in Ghana’s proposed first lithium mine. Atlantic Lithium shareholders are scheduled to vote on the proposed takeover on December 14, following court approval. The Congo case concerns an industrial wastewater spill at CDM’s Lubumbashi operation in November 2025. According to the Congolese ministry, a basin intended to retain water had been used to store acidic solutions.

The incident affected surrounding communities and prompted authorities to suspend the company’s operations for three months. Authorities subsequently required CDM to provide $2 million each to Kasapa, Kamatete and Kamisepe. A separate $6.6 million penalty was imposed for payment to the state treasury. However, implementation of the community compensation programme has been delayed.

The ministry attributed the delays partly to financial difficulties cited by CDM, which recently announced that it had halted its activities. “Financial difficulties or the suspension of operations do not exempt the operator from its obligations toward affected populations,” the ministry said. For Ghana, the development draws attention to the environmental and community obligations of the group moving into Ewoyaa.

Huayou’s involvement in the project is already progressing independently of its proposed acquisition of Atlantic Lithium. The company has completed an agreement to acquire Elevra Lithium’s rights and interests in the Ewoyaa project and Ghana portfolio. The proposed acquisition of Atlantic Lithium remains a separate transaction, subject to shareholder approval, regulatory approvals from Ghana’s Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, alignment with the Minerals Income Investment Fund, and the fulfilment of the remaining conditions.

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah The Congo incident does not establish that similar problems will arise at Ewoyaa. It does, however, provide a record against which Ghanaian regulators and affected communities can examine the proposed investor’s environmental safeguards and arrangements for compensation. The issue extends beyond whether a company can finance a mine.

It is also about whether its obligations to affected communities can be enforced when financial difficulties force it to suspend operations.