Story by Theophilus Chuma
ZIMBABWE will be producing its first lithium sulphate by early next year, following the completion of a processing plant at one of the country’s largest producers, Prospect Lithium Mine in Goromonzi.
Less than two years before the ban on lithium concentrate exports set for 2027, the sector is already accelerating investments towards sulphate processing plants, with Prospect Lithium, which owns Arcadia Mine in Goromonzi implementing such a project.
The mining firm has since completed a US$400 million lithium processing plant, marking a massive step towards value addition and industrialisation.”
Mines and Mining Development Minister, Honourable Winston Chitando says, beneficiation of the commodity cements Zimbabwe’s by position as a global lithium hotspot for lithium.
“If we look at it from the production profile of Acadia, they are doing 3.6 million tonnes of ore per annum, and that ore will be processed, ultimately in the lithium sulphate plant, which has got three lines. The idea is they will concentrate about 1.5 million tonnes of concentrates, which will be input into the lithium sulphate plant. There will be three lines of 500 each.”
By value adding the mineral, export receipts from the lithium sector are expected to go above US$1 billion.
“The first line of 500 will be up and running early next year, and the other two lines will be up and running in the second quarter, which is around April next year. So, they have done extremely well, and by January, Zimbabwe will be a lithium sulphate producer. Obviously, when we look at the abundance of lithium, the lithium reserve in Zimbabwe, the overall plan was targeting at least US$1 billion in terms of revenue generation. When the prices shoot up, it will be considerably much more than a billion,” the Minister noted.
Arcardia Mine is one of the eight major lithium producers in the country and government is pushing for local production of lithium batteries.
“We will start the first line from the beginning of next year, and another two from the second quarter. The quantity of the lithium sulphate, I think, should be more than 60 000 tonnes. But it will depend on the whole commissioning of the plant, because it’s brand new, and it’s the biggest of the world,” the mine’s General Manager, Mr Henry Zhu said.
Implementation of this processing plant is strategic as it opens increased opportunities for mining sector growth.
