Zimbabwe to Ban Lithium Concentrate Exports by 2027 to Boost Local Processing
Zimbabwe has announced that it will ban the export of lithium concentrates starting in January 2027, as part of efforts to build more value within its borders and drive local beneficiation. This is the latest step in the government’s ongoing push to make sure the country earns more from its vast mineral wealth.
Mines Minister Winston Chitando confirmed the new policy during a press briefing on Tuesday following a cabinet meeting.
Zimbabwe, Africa’s leading producer of lithium—a key component in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage—already banned the export of raw lithium ore in 2022. However, many lithium mining companies, mainly from China, have continued to ship lithium concentrates abroad for further processing.
That will soon change.
Chitando explained that two major lithium sulphate plants are currently under construction at mines owned by Chinese firms. One is at Bikita Minerals, operated by Sinomine, and the other at Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, owned by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.
Lithium sulphate is a semi-processed product that can be further refined into battery-grade materials like lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate—key ingredients in battery manufacturing. With this new infrastructure coming online, Zimbabwe now wants to stop the export of concentrates altogether.
“Because of that capacity which is now in the country, the export of all lithium concentrates will be banned from January 2027,” Chitando said.
Industry Investment and Policy Shifts
In 2023, the government told lithium miners they had until March 2024 to submit detailed plans for building local refineries. But as global lithium prices plummeted, authorities softened their stance, giving miners more breathing room.
Since 2021, Chinese companies—led by Sinomine, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Chengxin Lithium Group, Yahua Group and Canmax Technologies—have poured more than $1 billion into Zimbabwe’s lithium sector, snapping up mining assets and developing processing plants.
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The post Zimbabwe to Ban Lithium Concentrate Exports by 2027 to Boost Local Processing appeared first on iHarare News.
