Zimbabwe has announced an immediate ban on the export of raw minerals and lithium concentrate, as the government seeks to tighten oversight of the mining sector and encourage local processing.
The measure was confirmed by Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura during a press briefing in Harare. “For now, the export ban applies to all minerals currently in transit,” he said, adding that the step would allow authorities “to improve transparency in the mineral sector.” The government has also said it aims to increase domestic value addition by promoting in-country processing of raw materials.
Zimbabwe’s lithium sector has drawn attention in recent years, particularly over the role of Chinese investors. In 2022, the government introduced a ban on exports of unprocessed lithium following criticism that raw material was being shipped abroad without sufficient domestic beneficiation.
At the time, Reuters and Bloomberg reported that Chinese firms including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine Resource Group and Chengxin Lithium Group had acquired lithium mines and projects in Zimbabwe valued at about $678 million in 2021. Several of these projects include processing facilities, which would allow exports of processed materials under existing rules.
Zimbabwe holds some of the largest lithium reserves globally and the largest in Africa, making it a significant player in the supply chain for battery production. The stricter export controls follow years in which lithium-bearing ore was exported or smuggled out of the country, with much of the downstream processing taking place abroad.
The country’s largest lithium mine is located roughly 300 kilometres south of Harare and is estimated to contain about 11 million tonnes of lithium ore. Another project is expected to produce up to 2.5 million tonnes annually once fully operational.
Source: Reuters
