Yesha
Senior Member
- Jan 28, 2026
- 183
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HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe has commissioned Africa’s first lithium sulphate processing plant, a landmark US$400 million investment expected to create more than 2,000 jobs while positioning the country higher up the global battery minerals value chain.
The new facility, operated by Arcadia Technology Zimbabwe (ATZ), a sister company to Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) under Huayou Cobalt, will process locally mined spodumene and petalite into lithium sulphate, a high-value chemical used in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems and other advanced technologies.
The project marks a major shift from exporting raw lithium to producing higher-value battery materials locally, in line with Zimbabwe's drive to increase mineral beneficiation and industrialisation.
Zimbabwe's Ministry of Industry and Commerce described the plant as a milestone for both the country and the African continent.
The ministry said the investment would create over 2,000 jobs, facilitate technology and skills transfer, strengthen local supply chains, boost export earnings and increase foreign currency inflows and tax revenues.
Officials added that processing lithium domestically would allow Zimbabwe to capture more value from its natural resources while supporting rural industrialisation through job creation and economic development in mining communities.
The development places Zimbabwe among a small group of countries producing refined lithium chemicals, strengthening its position in the rapidly growing global battery materials market as demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage continues to rise.
Zimbabwe, which has some of the world's largest hard-rock lithium deposits, has attracted significant investment into the sector in recent years as the government pushes for value addition instead of exporting raw minerals.
The country earned about US$571.6 million from lithium exports in 2025, while total mineral exports excluding gold and silver reached US$3.4 billion. Gold exports generated approximately US$4.8 billion during the same period.
The government is targeting mineral export earnings of at least US$21 billion within the next two years through expanded beneficiation of strategic minerals including lithium, platinum and diamonds.
Earlier this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa suspended exports of lithium concentrates and other unprocessed lithium minerals as part of efforts to encourage local processing. Authorities plan to completely phase out lithium concentrate exports by January 2027, when all producers are expected to have established processing facilities.
Source: The Herald
The new facility, operated by Arcadia Technology Zimbabwe (ATZ), a sister company to Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) under Huayou Cobalt, will process locally mined spodumene and petalite into lithium sulphate, a high-value chemical used in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems and other advanced technologies.
The project marks a major shift from exporting raw lithium to producing higher-value battery materials locally, in line with Zimbabwe's drive to increase mineral beneficiation and industrialisation.
Zimbabwe's Ministry of Industry and Commerce described the plant as a milestone for both the country and the African continent.
The ministry said the investment would create over 2,000 jobs, facilitate technology and skills transfer, strengthen local supply chains, boost export earnings and increase foreign currency inflows and tax revenues.
Officials added that processing lithium domestically would allow Zimbabwe to capture more value from its natural resources while supporting rural industrialisation through job creation and economic development in mining communities.
The development places Zimbabwe among a small group of countries producing refined lithium chemicals, strengthening its position in the rapidly growing global battery materials market as demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage continues to rise.
Zimbabwe, which has some of the world's largest hard-rock lithium deposits, has attracted significant investment into the sector in recent years as the government pushes for value addition instead of exporting raw minerals.
The country earned about US$571.6 million from lithium exports in 2025, while total mineral exports excluding gold and silver reached US$3.4 billion. Gold exports generated approximately US$4.8 billion during the same period.
The government is targeting mineral export earnings of at least US$21 billion within the next two years through expanded beneficiation of strategic minerals including lithium, platinum and diamonds.
Earlier this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa suspended exports of lithium concentrates and other unprocessed lithium minerals as part of efforts to encourage local processing. Authorities plan to completely phase out lithium concentrate exports by January 2027, when all producers are expected to have established processing facilities.
Source: The Herald