Renowned global miner supports local processing of...

Renowned global miner supports local processing of lithium

George Roach - Mining Zimbabwe — George Roach

Zim Now Writer

The stance by Zimbabwe to consider processing its lithium locally as opposed to exporting the mineral in its crude form has had the backing of a world renowned mining expert, George Roach.

“We have to make sure that we benefit the country, the fiscus, people and as we go forward, we should be able to see that there is further processing of lithium bearing minerals; undertaken and done in this country.

"This has to be a target and I am quite sure that government and investors are all going to work with us to achieve it," he said.

Roath owns Zulu Lithium which is linked to Fort Rixon, one of the 20 EPOs that have received the nod from the Ministry of Mines to play a role in the exploitation of reserves that are the world’s fifth largest.

Roach in the past publicly admitted Zimbabwe has capacity to beneficiate its lithium, which for long had been done in China.

The ban on raw exports however has seen reports of smuggling being raised, with a truck load having recently been seized at the Beitbridge border post.

Artisanal mining of the mineral has been stopped in areas such as Bikita where Bikita Minerals sits on over 10.8 million tonnes of lithium ore.

The mineral's worth jumped by 100% last year alone as electric car production rose. Analysts forsee 50% of all vehicles being electric by 2030, with Zimbabwe standing to make billions.

Government is eyeing a US$12 billion mining industry by end of this year.

"If we continue exporting raw lithium we will go nowhere. We want to see lithium batteries being developed in the country.

"We have done this in good faith for the growth of industry," said mines deputy minister Polite Kambamura recently.