Lithium is a key element for the production of batteries for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage and other applications. As the global demand for lithium increases, Africa is emerging as a potential source of this strategic mineral. According to Fitch Solutions, there are nine lithium mining projects in development in Africa – in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mali, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, this is still small relative to the number of projects being developed in the Americas, Australia and Europe.
An overview of some of the ongoing lithium projects in Africa and their prospects for contributing to the continent’s economic development and green transition.
Arcadia Lithium Project – Zimbabwe: This project, located near Harare, is considered one of the world’s biggest hard rock lithium resources and is estimated to have a mine life of 12 years. It is operated by a subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, one of the world’s major producers of cobalt for batteries ². The project has a processing capacity of 4.5 million tonnes of ore and a production capacity of 400,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate per year . As of October 2021, the project had 15.8 million tonnes of measured lithium resources and 11.8 million tonnes of proven lithium reserves .
Ewoyaa Lithium Project – Ghana: This project, developed by Atlantic Lithium, an Australian company, is expected to be the first lithium-producing mine in Ghana, West Africa . It is located in the Cape Coast Basin and covers an area of 684km. The project has an estimated mineral resource of 14.5 million tonnes at 1.31% lithium oxide (Li2O) and a probable ore reserve of 9.3 million tonnes at 1.31% Li2O. The project has a planned production rate of two million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of ore and an estimated annual output of 295,000t of spodumene concentrate over a mine life of eight years.
Bougouni Lithium Project – Mali: This project, developed by Kodal Minerals, a UK-based company, is located in southern Mali and covers an area of 500km. The project has an estimated mineral resource of 21.3 million tonnes at 1.11% Li2O and a probable ore reserve of 15.5 million tonnes at 1.01% Li2O. The project has a planned production rate of two Mtpa of ore and an estimated annual output of 220,000t of spodumene concentrate over a mine life of eight years .
Manono Lithium-Tin Project – DRC: This project, developed by AVZ Minerals, an Australian company, is located in central DRC and covers an area of 188km² ⁵. It is estimated to be one of the largest lithium-rich LCT (lithium, caesium, tantalum) pegmatite deposits in the world ⁵. The project has an estimated mineral resource of 400 million tonnes at 1.65% Li2O and a probable ore reserve of 93 million tonnes at 1.58% Li2O ⁵. The project has a planned production rate of two Mtpa of ore and an estimated annual output of 700,000t of spodumene concentrate over a mine life of more than 20 years .
These projects demonstrate the potential of Africa to become a significant player in the global lithium market and to benefit from the opportunities offered by the green economy. However, they also face challenges such as political instability, environmental and social impacts, infrastructure gaps and financing constraints. Therefore, it is important for African governments and stakeholders to adopt policies and practices that ensure responsible and sustainable development of the lithium sector.
