No to lithium ore exports, yes to beneficiation

No to lithium ore exports, yes to beneficiation - Minister Chitando

Chitando: Mnangagwa's finest appointment might just be his minister of mines | The Herald — Minister Winston Chitando

Zim Now Writer

Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando has further buttressed the fact that Zimbabwe is determined to retain more of the value in lithium through processing it before export.

That way, he argues, it would boost tax revenue and encourage new businesses.

This follows a projection of Africa's lithium production which is set to rapidly increase from 40,000 tonnes this year.

The continent will produce approximately 497,000 tonnes in 2030 with the bulk of that coming from Zimbabwe, according to projections.

In December, Zimbabwe imposed a ban on raw lithium exports as a measure to stop the smuggling of lithium ore and to spur mines to process in the country.

"We made plans to only allow the export of concentrates. Because of the ban, other investors have come in wanting to mop up lithium ores and develop them to concentrate stage," Chitando said.

Lithium prices and demand have soared as the auto industry shifts towards electric vehicles which was prompted by bans on fossil fuel.

Namibia’s Mines Minister, Tom Alweendo, said lithium mined within the country has to be processed within.

"We are saying to ourselves, if you have got the minerals that everybody wants now, you need to make sure that at least you probably mine those minerals differently and not in the usual manner,” he said.

Prices for lithium more than doubled last year as demand from the electric vehicle industry outstripped supply.

Zimbabwe’s Bikita Mine is the largest lithium-rich mine field in the continent.