Zimbabwe will ban the export of lithium concentrates from January 2027, intensifying its push for domestic mineral processing.
Mines Minister Winston Chitando announced the move on Tuesday, stating it was a natural step following earlier restrictions on raw lithium ore exports.
Zimbabwe, Africa’s leading lithium producer, first banned unprocessed lithium ore exports in 2022 to encourage local value addition.
Chinese companies dominate Zimbabwe’s lithium sector and have been shipping concentrates abroad, primarily to China.
Chitando revealed that lithium sulphate plants are now under construction at Bikita Minerals and Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe.
These operations, owned by Chinese firms Sinomine and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, produce an intermediate product for battery manufacturing.
Lithium sulphate can be refined into high-value compounds like lithium hydroxide or carbonate, essential for electric vehicle and renewable energy batteries.
“Because of that capacity which is now in the country, the export of all lithium concentrates will be banned from January 2027,” said Chitando.
In 2023, the government gave miners until March 2024 to submit plans for local refineries but eased pressure after global lithium prices slumped.
Since 2021, Chinese firms including Chengxin Lithium Group, Yahua Group, and Canmax Technologies have invested over $1 billion in Zimbabwe’s lithium projects.
The planned export ban signals Zimbabwe’s ambition to climb the global battery production value chain and retain more economic benefits at home.