Bikita Minerals operations halted

Edmore Zvinonzwa

Masvingo-based lithium miner, Bikita Minerals, has announced that it has put its operations on hold in order to address administrative issues “raised by authorities”.

In a press release yesterday, Bikita Minerals Mine manager, David Mwanza, said: “This release serves to inform our stakeholders and partners that we have put operations at our plant on hold for 7 days to address administrative concerns raised by authorities.

“As a law abiding corporate, we remain committed to fully comply with all requirements of the law and expect to resume operations once all the outstanding issues have been addressed.”

The lithium miner’s manager also said they are working closely with authorities in an effort to ensure that the matter is resolved within the stipulated time frame.

Mwanza advised all employees to remain at home with the exception of those who are in care and maintenance. “Those on essential services will be required to perform their prescribed duties,” he said.

Bikita Minerals, was acquired by China’s Sinomine Resource Group for US$180 million from German investors through African Minerals Ltd in January last year.

Deputy Mines and Mining Development Minister, Polite Kambamura confirmed the suspension of operations saying: “It’s a temporary suspension of operations. There were issues that government noted that the mine was not complying with.”

“We had a checklist and we were ticking. Anything that the company wasn’t complying with we ticked and ordered it to correct before reopening.

“The audit was done by an inter-ministerial team looking at issues like immigration, labour laws, export laws, environmental laws and so forth. Once the mine puts the house in order, its authorities will call us to re-inspect. If it’s complying we will issue a reopening order,” said Kambamura.

Bikita Minerals employs about 860 workers, whose obligations the company said it is going to meet during this period.