Mapinga set for industrial boom with US$450m salt ...

Mapinga set for industrial boom with US$450m salt plant

Zim Now Writer

A US$450 million salt plant with an initial annual production capacity of 30 000 tonnes will be developed in Mapinga, Mashonaland West Province under the proposed US$13 billion mine-energy industrial park.

“The lithium concentrate produced from this mine will feed into the Mapinga minerals-to-energy park, where a lithium salt plant with an estimated cost of US$450 million will be constructed.

“The lithium plant will have a production of 30 000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide and the capacity is to expand to over 130 000 tonnes of lithium carbonate of lithium hydroxide per annum,” Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando said.

He said the project will boost the economy through mineral beneficiation as well as support the clean energy drive in line with the National Development Strategy1.

In September, government signed a memorandum of understanding with two Chinese investors the Eagle Canyon International Goal Investment and Pacific Goal Investment, leading to the establishment of the mine-energy industrial park.

The mine-energy park, which is expected to operational by 2024, will include the construction of two 300-megawatt power stations, a coking plant, graphite processing plant, nickel chromium alloy smelter and a nickel sulphate plant.

Minister Chitando also said an estimated US$4 million has been spent on the exploration programme at the Sabi Star Lithium Mine owned by MaxMind Investments, a subsidiary of Eagle Canyon.

“The area shows great potential for more lithium and tantalite resources which could be unlocked through further systematic exploration efforts,” Chitando added.