THE AFRICA TIMES | ZIMBABWE — Zimbabwe has commissioned its first lithium processing plant, marking a significant advancement in its strategy to reduce raw mineral exports. This initiative aims to enhance the country’s role in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain through value-added production.
Investment in Lithium Processing
The $400 million facility is located in the Goromonzi district, approximately 30 km east of Harare. It has been developed by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), a subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. The plant processes hard-rock lithium ore into lithium sulphate, which serves as a vital intermediate for the production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate for EV batteries and renewable energy storage.
Strategic Shift in Mineral Processing
According to Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Mines
