Zimbabwe is strengthening its position in the global battery minerals market following the successful production and export of lithium salt at the Arcadia Lith...
Zimbabwe is strengthening its position in the global battery minerals market following the successful production and export of lithium salt at the Arcadia Lithium Project in Goromonzi.
The development makes the Arcadia Lithium Project the first producer and exporter of lithium salt in Africa, marking a major milestone for Zimbabwe’s mining sector and beneficiation drive.
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Government’s decision to ban the export of unprocessed lithium is now being credited for accelerating investment in local processing and value addition. The move has positioned Zimbabwe as an emerging player in the global battery minerals supply chain as demand for lithium continues to grow due to the expansion of electric vehicle and energy storage industries.
Management at Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe described the inaugural export of lithium salt as a major achievement for both Zimbabwe and the African continent.
“We have employed 2 000 workers directly and another 2 000 indirectly, and we are proud of that. In terms of power generation, we have a 70-megawatt power plant that was built concurrently with the processing plant. The power plant is meant to supply electricity to both PLZ and ATZ, and we are hopeful that by the second half of 2026 both entities will be fully operational,” said Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe Public Relations Manager Patience Chizodza.
Chizodza said the company had already started exporting lithium sulphate in April 2026 and was targeting increased production at the processing facility.
“Arcadia Technologies Zimbabwe processes lithium concentrate into lithium sulphate, which is what we are now producing here at PLZ. We started our first exports in April 2026, and so far we are happy with the progress. Our plant has a production capacity of 50 000 tonnes per annum, which is the target we are currently working towards for the lithium sulphate plant,” she said.
Beyond mineral processing, the company has also been recognised for implementing corporate social responsibility programmes in surrounding communities.
Mashonaland East Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Tavabarira Kutamahufa, said the project was proof that Government policies on beneficiation and value addition were beginning to deliver positive results.
“This is a success story of Government policy aimed at promoting beneficiation and value addition. The project is also contributing to employment creation and technology transfer. The company is assisting with the rehabilitation of roads and the construction of dams for the benefit of local communities,” Kutamahufa said.
Special Advisor to the President on Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo, also commended the company for complying with Government directives on mineral value addition and for supporting infrastructure development in rural communities.
“There is a huge difference here since President Emmerson Mnangagwa visited this place a few years ago. There has been remarkable development, and the company has complied with the Government directive to value add our minerals,” Gumbo said.
“The company is taking a leading role in promoting social responsibility through the construction of schools, clinics and roads. Other companies should emulate this example. This mine is located in a rural area, and devolution is becoming a reality and a success. The majority of the 2 000 people employed here are from the surrounding communities, while about 4 000 people are benefitting directly or indirectly from the project,” he added.
Gumbo also highlighted the importance of the project in supporting Zimbabwe’s long-term ambitions within the electric vehicle battery value chain.
“The company is also constructing a power plant, which is a major step towards the country’s vision of producing batteries for electric vehicles. Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe is a cornerstone of our national drive to build a multi-billion-dollar mining economy,” he said.
The Arcadia Lithium Project is increasingly being viewed as a model for Zimbabwe’s wider mining transformation agenda, which focuses on maximising value from the country’s mineral resources through beneficiation, local processing and industrial development.
As global demand for battery minerals continues to rise, Zimbabwe is positioning itself to benefit from the growing electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors through investments in lithium processing, infrastructure development and local employment creation.
