Zimbabwe Unveils Africa’s First Lithium Sulphate Plant, Signaling Shift in Mineral Strategy

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is preparing to launch the continent’s first commercial lithium sulphate processing plant, a move that could transform how the nation earns from its vast mineral reserves.

The facility, being built by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe in partnership with China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, represents a strategic shift from exporting raw materials to processing higher-value products domestically. Lithium sulphate, an intermediate used to make battery-grade chemicals such as lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, is central to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.

The $400 million plant, located at the Arcadia lithium mine near Harare, is expected to begin production in early 2026, with capacity to output more than 60,000 metric tons of lithium sulphate annually once fully operational.

Zimbabwe, already Africa’s largest lithium producer, has long exported spodumene concentrate, a raw lithium mineral, largely to China. But the government has been encouraging on-site processing to capture greater economic value and create skilled jobs at home. In line with this strategy, officials plan to ban the export of lithium concentrate starting in 2027, allowing only more refined products to leave the country.

Miners and analysts say the new plant could help Zimbabwe secure a stronger position in the global supply chain for critical battery materials. By moving beyond extraction to intermediate processing, the country hopes to attract further investment and bolster its export earnings amid fluctuating global mineral prices.

The project also underscores China’s deepening role in Zimbabwe’s mining sector. Chinese firms have invested heavily in local lithium production, including plans by other companies such as Sinomine to build additional sulphate plants. These investments come as global demand for lithium-based technologies continues to grow.