Zimbabwe, Africa’s leading lithium producer, has officially launched its first lithium processing plant. The suspension of raw lithium ore exports, implemented in February ahead of a total ban scheduled for January 2027, is accelerating investments in local mineral processing. Building on this progress, the Southern African nation aims to further its goal of processing resources domestically, with ambitions to eventually produce its own rechargeable lithium batteries.
This policy, which mandates the value-addition of resources within the national territory, has compelled mining companies to invest in processing units to continue their export operations. The first facility was constructed in Goromonzi, about 30 kilometers east of Harare, by the Chinese company Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ). With an investment of $400 million, the plant has been fully operational since May.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa emphasized the country’s commitment to local value creation during an industrialization conference, stating, “We will no longer tolerate the raw export of our wealth. We would rather leave our precious minerals underground than export them without local processing.”
Minister of Mines Polite Kambamura noted that this facility is a continental first, with plans for a lithium carbonate refinery also nearing completion. The government intends to extend this policy to 13 other strategic minerals, including cobalt, platinum group metals, and rare earths, by early next year to ensure sustainable economic benefits for future generations.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-28 08:23:38 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/industrie-extractive-le-zimbabwe-lance-sa-premiere-usine-de-transformation-du-lithium-apres-la-suspension-des-exportations-de-minerais-bruts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=industrie-extractive-le-zimbabwe-lance-sa-premiere-usine-de-transformation-du-lithium-apres-la-suspension-des-exportations-de-minerais-bruts
