Zimbabwe Advances Plans for Local Production of Battery-Grade Lithium
Zimbabwe is making strides in its efforts to enhance its lithium industry, with four mining companies presenting proposals to produce battery-grade lithium within the country. This move reflects Zimbabwe’s ambition to refine lithium locally, a mineral crucial for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage, aiming to bolster its economy.
As Africa’s leading lithium producer, Zimbabwe is urging miners to process the mineral domestically, shifting away from the current practice where Chinese lithium miners primarily export lithium concentrates to China for further processing.
Last November, Zimbabwe’s finance minister Mthuli Ncube announced a deadline for miners to submit plans for local refining, initially set for March 2024. However, the deadline was extended by two months at the request of some miners, according to deputy mines minister Polite Kambamura.
Kambamura confirmed that four major mining companies have submitted long-term plans for local lithium refining, although he refrained from disclosing their names. The government is yet to review these proposals.
Zimbabwe boasts substantial hard-rock lithium reserves, attracting significant investment from Chinese mining giants like Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Sinomine Resource Group, Chengxin Lithium Group, Yahua Group, Canmax Technologies, and the Tsingshan Group.
While some Chinese firms, such as Huayou, have expressed interest in exploring battery-grade lithium production in Zimbabwe, they highlight challenges such as the lack of resources necessary for production, including reliable renewable energy, natural gas, and sulphuric acid.
Nonetheless, Zimbabwe remains steadfast in its pursuit of local lithium refining, envisioning the development of a robust lithium industry to meet the growing demand for batteries amid the global shift towards cleaner energy sources.
“We are not going to end on concentrates; we want batteries to be manufactured here,” emphasized Kambamura, underscoring Zimbabwe’s commitment to value-added processing within its borders.
SOURCE:batterymetalsafrica.com
