Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe exported the first lithium sulphate produced on the continent from its Arcadia mine near Harare last month. The shipment follows a government ban on raw mineral exports introduced in February.
The export came from the US$400 million Arcadia mine operated by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. The plant can produce up to 50,000 metric tonnes of lithium sulphate each year.
Harare advanced its raw mineral export ban to February to reduce smuggling and increase local processing. The company called the shipment a landmark achievement that shows progress on in-country value addition.
Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe said the milestone marks the country’s emergence as a player in the global lithium value chain.
