Battery manufacturing plant for Bulawayo

Zim Now Writer

One of the Matabeleland South Province's biggest lithium mines, Zulu Lithium is a few days away from opening.

The spodumene processing plant will be opening in two weeks' time and is set to be part of the vision to achieve a US$12 billion mining economy this year.

The new mine, which will join a long list of lithium producers that have taken the mining industry by storm, is set to open in ten days’ time, setting Matabeleland South province on a sustainable developmental path.

The mine which is set to be the biggest producer of spodumene, a high value type of lithium used for manufacturing batteries will also establish a battery manufacturing plant in Bulawayo.

“We are not an exporter of raw multi-million lithium, that’s the reason why we set up this plant, because we understand the thrust of this government of beneficiation,” noted Zulu Lithium General Manager Jabulani Chirasha.

“We have already been advanced with $34 million from a Chinese company to supply processed spodumene and we are seeing the potential of this project,” he added.

The work and investment at Zulu Lithium Mine has created employment, with 95 percent of the workforce being locals, a development which has satisfied government.

“This is one of the largest undeveloped lithium resources in the country if not Africa. This plant and all the investment amounted to about US$80 million and this shows how committed this company is in investing in our country,” noted Deputy Minister for Mines and Minerals Development Honourable Polite Kambamura.

“The government has banned exporting of raw lithium and this company has set up a plant to locally beneficiate lithium before exporting and it is so critical in our endeavour as government,” added Kambamura.

Zimbabwe has opened doors for investors to set up processing plants for value addition and benefaction although other countries have nationalised lithium production.

Zulu Lithium, a subsidiary of Premier African Minerals, joins other big mines like Arcadia, Bikita and Sabi in the local lithium mining industry.