COUNTRY:  ZIMBABWE.

A $15 million investment by Chinese-owned ZHELI Mining is expanding lithium processing in Zimbabwe, with the company operating a processing plant in Zvishavane, Midlands Province. According to ZBC News, ZHELI currently processes lithium ore into concentrate and plans to establish a lithium sulphate factory, taking production further up the value chain. The investment comes as Zimbabwe seeks to retain more value from its mineral wealth by promoting domestic processing rather than relying on the export of raw materials.

ZHELI’s operation forms part of a growing Zimbabwe–China partnership in lithium and other critical minerals. The company has two processing lines and sources ore through an off-take arrangement with Sandawana Mine. Zimbabwe has also secured commitments from major Chinese companies for mineral beneficiation, value addition and industrialisation, including investment in lithium processing and battery-related industries. Together, these developments point to a shift towards building more processing capacity within Zimbabwe and strengthening the country’s position in the mineral value chain.

For Zimbabwe, the significance of the lithium sector goes beyond production and export earnings. The government is seeking to use the country’s mineral wealth to expand processing, create industrial jobs and support wider economic development. Chinese investment can provide capital, technology and industrial expertise, but the longer-term question is how much value these projects retain within Zimbabwe and how far they contribute to domestic industrial capacity. As the country tightens restrictions on exports of unprocessed minerals and lithium concentrates, the ZHELI project forms part of a broader effort to turn Zimbabwe’s lithium reserves into a foundation for local industrial development rather than another source of raw-material exports.

Photo Source: zbc news
Author: Olivia Adams.