Matabeleland Emerges as Zimbabwe’s Lithium Production Hub
Matabeleland region is rapidly establishing itself as Zimbabwe's central hub for lithium-oriented companies, with four high-impact firms at various stages of exploration and production, poised to significantly contribute to the country's economic growth and enhance livelihoods. Amidst a global surge in demand for lithium, used in electric vehicle batteries, Zimbabwe, ranked as the sixth-largest lithium producer, is set to capitalize on this trend despite a current dip in commodity prices on the international market.
The investment wave, fueled by renewed interest under President Mnangagwa's Second Republic, includes notable projects such as Premier African Minerals in Fort Rixon's Zulu Lithium Mine. This mine, undergoing enhancements since 2018, has a mineral resource estimate of 20.1 million tonnes with 1.06 percent lithium oxide and 51 parts per million tantalum oxide, alongside a newly discovered mineralisation zone potentially surpassing initial targets.
Another key player, Gwanda Lithium Mine Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of Tsingshan Holdings Limited Groups, signifies China's vested interest in the region. The processing plant, constructed at a cost of US$54 million, aims for an annual production of one million tonnes of ore and 200,000 tons of lithium concentrate.
Matabeleland North is not left behind, with Kamativi Mine in Hwange District, once dormant for nearly three decades, now back in operation focusing on lithium rather than tin. The mine, in partnership with Sichuan Pude Technology Group from China, recently commissioned a modern lithium processing plant as part of a US$249 million investment, expecting to significantly ramp up production.
In addition to these developments, UK's Galileo Resources has embarked on lithium and gold exploration in the area, drawing encouragement from Phase 1 drilling program results at Kamativi Lithium-Tin Mine. The company's exploration efforts, coupled with the identification of significant lithium content spread throughout the mica schist host rock and associated pegmatites, signal the region's untapped potential.
