African Critical Minerals: Chinese Companies Invest $270 Million to Develop Zimbabwe's Lithium Mine

By 2027, Zimbabwe's lithium production could rise with the operation of the Sandawana mine

¬ Kuvimba Mining Company will start construction in the third quarter of 2025 and operate in 2027

¬ The project will increase 600,000 tons of concentrate

¬ Despite weak global investment prices, Chinese-supported investments still drive economic expansion

The state-owned Kuvimba Mining Company plans to start building the Sandawana lithium mine in the third quarter of 2025, with an expected operation by 2027. The company's CEO, Trevor Barnard, said on July 16 that the project aims to produce 600,000 tons of lithium concentrate annually, supporting Zimbabwe's rapidly growing output.

Zimbabwe's lithium sector delivered 2.4 million tons of concentrate in 2024, more than three times the 745,455 tons produced the previous year. With the start of new mines and strong investment from Chinese companies, authorities expect 3.26 million tons in 2025.

Sandawana follows this trend. Kuvimba has partnered with two Chinese companies, with an estimated cost of $270 million. In his latest statement, Barnard did not reveal the names of the partners, but previously mentioned in an interview with Bloomberg in 2024 that Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Shanshan Holding were the partners.

This wave of new lithium projects comes at a time when global demand for the metal is rising, as it is essential for energy transition technologies. The International Energy Agency estimates that about 55 new lithium mines will be needed by 2035 to meet demand.

If new projects stay on track and output remains strong, Zimbabwe can play a role in narrowing the supply gap. For Sandawana, securing funding is the next key step. Kuvimba continues to negotiate final financing with its Chinese partners.

Despite the long-term decline in global lithium prices, which have dropped about 80% since 2023, Barnard still believes that prices will rebound when Sandawana starts operating.

Source: ecofinagency

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837886113782219/

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