Zimbabwe taps into high-value minerals

Walter Nyamukondiwa Mashonaland West Bureau

GOVERNMENT is moving to explore and expand exploitation of Zimbabwe’s previously untapped high-value minerals such as lithium and manganese which are driving technology revolution around the world.

This comes as 60 percent of the country remains unexplored amid progressive discoveries that will put Zimbabwe on a better footing economically if they are fully exploited.

In an interview recently, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura said there was need for expansive exploration of Zimbabwe to consolidate and complement minerals such as gold and platinum.

“The country is endowed with a lot of minerals,” he said. “Forty percent of Zimbabwe is explored and 60 percent remains virgin and as a result there are new minerals that are coming on the market that we were not utilising all these years.

“Minerals like lithium are coming into the picture because of the invention of batteries for electric cars in Western, Eastern countries and other developed nations. They are doing away with internal combustion engines.”

Bikita Minerals has been mining lithium over the years, but it was largely untapped until recently when the Arcadia Lithium Project in Goromonzi was commissioned by President Mnangagwa.

“There is need for further exploration for lithium, small minerals, but of high value. Minerals like manganese and magnesium which are being used in modern technology,” he said.

Lithium is considered one of the lightest metals and is used in clean energy technology, especially in batteries used in electric gadgets and cars.

Cells in the batteries carry a lithium positive cathode and graphite as the negative anode.

Demand for the mineral is growing in countries such as China which are progressively phasing out conventional vehicles in favour of zero emission technologies.

Zimbabwe is the third largest producer of lithium in Africa and eighth in the world.

Realising the importance of the mineral, the Zimbabwe Special Economic Zones Authority has granted Prospect Resources’ Arcadia Lithium Project Special Economic Zone status.

The status comes with favourable regulations and incentives that differ from other areas in the country.

This is expected to increase investment and facilitate the ease of doing business.