Zimbabwe Lithium Miners Seek Extension to Processing Deadline

Zimbabwe’s lithium mining industry has appealed to the government for an extension to the country’s planned ban on lithium concentrate exports, arguing that more time is needed to complete processing facilities currently under development.

The request comes ahead of a January 2027 deadline that will prohibit exports of lithium concentrate as the government seeks to increase local value addition and capture more economic benefits from its growing battery minerals sector.

Government Drives Local Beneficiation

As Africa’s largest lithium producer, Zimbabwe has intensified efforts to promote domestic processing rather than exporting raw materials.

Authorities have introduced lithium concentrate export quotas, imposed a 16% export tax on lithium concentrate shipments, and temporarily halted exports earlier this year over concerns about mineral leakages and lost economic value.

The government’s long-term strategy is to establish a domestic battery minerals industry capable of producing higher-value lithium chemicals for global markets.

Miners Request Deadline Extension

Speaking at a mining conference in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Lithium Producers’ Association, Innocent Rukweza, said major lithium operators are already investing heavily in processing infrastructure but may not meet the January 2027 deadline.

Rukweza, who is also Chief Executive Officer of Mutapa Energy Resources, urged regulators to consider extending the export ban implementation date until June 2027.

According to the industry, several projects remain under construction, and additional time would allow producers to complete beneficiation facilities and transition smoothly to local processing.

Major Processing Projects Underway

Zimbabwe’s leading lithium operations are progressing with plans to produce lithium sulphate, a key intermediate product used in battery manufacturing.

Among the projects currently underway:

• Bikita Minerals, owned by Sinomine Resource Group, is constructing a lithium sulphate processing plant.
• Kamativi Lithium Mine, backed by Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group, is also developing processing capacity.
• Sandawana Mine, operated by state-owned interests, is currently conducting a feasibility study for future processing facilities.
• A plant owned by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt has already been completed and is exporting processed lithium chemicals.

Chinese Investment Dominates Zimbabwe’s Lithium Sector

Chinese companies remain the dominant investors in Zimbabwe’s lithium industry, having invested an estimated $2 billion in the sector since 2021.

These investments have strengthened China’s position in global battery mineral supply chains while helping Zimbabwe emerge as one of the world’s fastest-growing lithium producers.

In 2025, Zimbabwe exported approximately 1.13 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate to China, representing around 15% of China’s total lithium concentrate imports for the year.

Industry Targets Major Production Growth

Despite challenges including high operating costs, taxes, and changing regulatory requirements, the industry remains optimistic about long-term growth prospects.

The Zimbabwe Lithium Producers’ Association forecasts annual lithium sulphate production could reach 344,000 tonnes by 2030 as new processing facilities come online and beneficiation capacity expands.

If successful, Zimbabwe’s beneficiation strategy could transform the country from a supplier of raw lithium concentrate into a significant producer of battery-grade materials, positioning it as a more important player in the global electric vehicle and energy storage supply chain.

However, industry leaders argue that achieving these ambitions will require regulatory flexibility and sufficient time for ongoing investments to be completed before export restrictions take full effect.