Lithium production up by over 760%

Zim Now Writer

The Zimbabwe Statistics has revealed that the country’s lithium production surged by over 760% in 2023.

Production skyrocketed to 745 455 metric tonnes in 2023, representing 763.5% from the 86 330 MT produced in 2022.

The first quarter of 2023 witnessed an increase of approximately 130.9%, with production reaching 25 000 MT compared to 10 825 MT in the same quarter of 2022.

In the second quarter, production spiked by about 405.8% to 79 689 MT from 15 755 in 2022.

During the third quarter of 2023, production soared by approximately 807.5% to 325, 479 MT compared to 35 866MT in the same quarter of last year.

The fourth quarter also saw a substantial increase of 1220.0%, with production reaching 315 287 MT from 23 884 MT in 2022.

Former Mines and Mining Development Minister, Soda Zhemu said lithium exports realise US$600 million in exports annually.

The Zimbabwe Statistics Agency also revealed that the country’s Chrome Production increased by 4.37% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Last year, production hit 1 204 755 Metric tonnes compared to 1 154 340 metric tonnes in 2022.

The first quarter of 2023 saw a decline in production dropping from 386 576 metric tonnes to 206 354 metric tonnes.

The second quarter saw better performance with a 14.89% increase in production with output reaching 274 978 metric tonnes, surpassing the 239 333 metric tonnes produced during the same quarter in 2022.

Although the third quarter of 2023 saw a decline of 27.88% in production, dropping to 248 176 MT from 344 131 MT in 2022, the final quarter saw a 158.121% increase.

According to Minister Zhemu, the ministry will continue to work on strategies to help the country realise more gains from its mineral resources including coming up with Special Purpose Vehicles for mineral exploration, new mine openings, recapacitation of dormant mines and expansion of current mining projects.