Zimbabwe's only lithium sulphate plant unable to process third-party ore, official confirms

Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, the local subsidiary of China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and operator of the country's sole completed lithium sulphate facility, currently lacks the capacity to process material from external producers, a company official said on Friday.Asian Metal Copyright The disclosure comes ahead of a concentrate export ban scheduled to take effect in January, under which Africa's top lithium producer aims to incentivize domestic processing of the battery metal to boost higher-value exports and generate local employment.Asian Metal Copyright The disclosure comes ahead of a concentrate export ban scheduled to take effect in January, under which Africa's top lithium producer aims to incentivize domestic processing of the battery metal to boost higher-value exports and generate local employment.Asian Metal Copyright "We don't have the capacity to process other minerals from outside.Asian Metal Copyright While several additional plants are under development across the country, only one has been commissioned to date.Asian Metal CopyrightProspect Lithium Zimbabwe, the local subsidiary of China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and operator of the country's sole completed lithium sulphate facility, currently lacks the capacity to process material from external producers, a company official said on Friday.Asian Metal Copyright "We don't have the capacity to process other minerals from outside.Asian Metal CopyrightProspect Lithium Zimbabwe, the local subsidiary of China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and operator of the country's sole completed lithium sulphate facility, currently lacks the capacity to process material from external producers, a company official said on Friday.Asian Metal Copyright Our concentrator plant produces around 400,000 tons per annum, so we don't have space for other players," mine manager Mthokozisi Goliath stated during a site visit by Mines Minister Polite Kambamura.Asian Metal Copyright While several additional plants are under development across the country, only one has been commissioned to date.Asian Metal Copyright Meanwhile, Sinomine Resource Group's Bikita Minerals and Kamativi Mining Company-the Zimbabwean arm of China's Yahua Group-are advancing their own plant constructions, though neither is expected to be operational by the January 2027 deadline.
.Asian Metal Copyright Our concentrator plant produces around 400,000 tons per annum, so we don't have space for other players," mine manager Mthokozisi Goliath stated during a site visit by Mines Minister Polite KambamuraAsian Metal Copyright