Zimbabwe aims to build a $12 billion economy by 2030, leveraging its robust mining sector. As Africa’s largest lithium producer and rich in various critical minerals, the country plans to optimize investments in exploration, develop new mines and refining facilities, and form partnerships with global players to achieve this goal.
Recent investments reflect a drive to stimulate infrastructure development, signaling a positive growth trajectory for Zimbabwe’s lithium industry.
State-owned mining company Kuvimba House signed a $310 million Build, Operate, and Transfer agreement in July 2024 with British and Chinese investors to construct a three-million-ton-per-annum lithium processing plant.
Situated at the Sandawana Mine, the facility will feature a 600,000-tons-per-annum lithium concentrator, operational within 18 months.
The concentrator will be initially owned by the consortium for six years before being transferred to the Zimbabwean government. Operations at the mine began in January 2023.
Chinese mining company Rwizi Rukuru commissioned a 300-tons-per-day lithium concentrator in April 2024.
Located in Mutoko, in Mashonaland East province, the facility is the province’s third lithium processing plant. Rwizi Rukuru is currently conducting tests before fully commencing operations at both the concentrator and the mine.
Chinese miner Shengxiang Investments completed the construction and installation of a lithium processing facility in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East province, in July 2023.
The facility has a capacity of 1,000 tons of lithium per day, with testing already complete. The company plans to increase capacity to 2,000 tons per day. Shengxiang Investments invested $40 million in the facility’s construction.
Chinese mining company Sinomine Resource Group commissioned a $300 million spodumene processing plant at the Bikita Lithium Mine in July 2023.
This infrastructure expansion follows Sinomine’s acquisition of the project from South African mining firm African Minerals for $180 million in January 2022.
The new plant aims to increase Bikita Mine’s lithium production capacity to 300,000 tons per annum.
Chengxin Lithium Commissions Concentrator
Chinese company Chengxin Lithium Group commissioned a lithium concentrator at the Sabi Star Mine in May 2023, producing 300,000 tons of lithium annually.
This milestone is part of the firm’s strategy to boost production at the mine after acquiring a 51% stake from lithium mining firm Max Mind in November 2021.
Huayou Cobalt Begins Lithium Operations
Chinese mining company Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt completed the construction of a $300 million lithium concentrator in March 2023.
Located at the Arcadia project in Harare, the refinery has a production capacity of 400,000 metric tons of lithium annually.
Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt acquired the Arcadia project from Australian miner Prospect Resources for $422 million in April 2022.
