Zimbabwe Commissions 1st Lithium Processing Plant to Boost Value-Added Production

Zimbabwe has commissioned its first lithium processing plant, marking a major step in its strategy to curb raw mineral exports and expand its role in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain through value-added production.

The $400 million facility, located in Goromonzi district about 30 km east of Harare, was built by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), a subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. It processes hard-rock lithium ore into lithium sulphate, a key intermediate used in the production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate for EV batteries and renewable energy storage.

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Mines said the facility is the first lithium sulphate processing plant in Africa and represents a shift from exporting raw minerals to developing domestic mineral processing and chemical industries.

The commissioning follows government measures aimed at increasing local value addition. In February, authorities suspended exports of raw lithium ore ahead of a planned nationwide ban in 2027, requiring mining companies to process minerals domestically.

Zimbabwe, which holds Africa’s largest lithium reserves and is among the world’s leading producers of the battery metal, hopes the policy will retain more economic value, create skilled jobs and reduce exposure to fluctuations in raw commodity prices.

Officials in Harare said the country plans to further develop its battery minerals industry by producing battery-grade lithium carbonate domestically and eventually manufacturing solar panels and rechargeable batteries.