Export ban sparks rush to process lithium in Zimbabwe

Raw Lithium packed

HARARE — Zimbabwe’s government has imposed an immediate ban on exports of raw lithium concentrates and other raw minerals, a move that has forced miners, many Chinese‑owned, to accelerate plans to process lithium locally rather than ship concentrates abroad. The directive, announced by the Mines Ministry, applies to consignments already in transit and will remain in force until further notice, officials said, as authorities restructure export procedures to tighten mineral accountability and prioritise in‑country beneficiation.

Policy aims and immediate effects

The ban is intended to capture added value from refining and processing, create jobs, and boost government revenue by moving Zimbabwe up the lithium value chain. Critics argue the policy is overdue and that the country has already lost years of potential revenue by exporting raw material.

Zimbabwe, which the US Geological Survey ranks among the world’s largest lithium reserve holders, had already banned ore exports in 2022 and planned to halt concentrate exports from January 2027, but the government moved the deadline forward with immediate effect this week.

Industry response and processing capacity

Some miners and state‑linked firms say they are readying local processing capacity. Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, owned by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, has invested about US$400 million in a processing plant that its representative says will soon refine concentrate into lithium sulfate, a product closer to battery feedstock, and handle 400,000 tonnes a year.

State‑owned Mutapa Energy Minerals and other companies have announced plans for large‑scale concentrate‑processing plants, with projects reportedly valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and capacities of several hundred thousand tonnes annually.

Economic data and market context

Zimbabwe’s lithium exports rose sharply in 2025, with concentrate shipments reported at roughly 1.5 million metric tonnes, generating about US$571.6 million in revenue, according to industry figures cited by local sources. Global demand for lithium grew strongly last year amid rising electric vehicle and battery production.

Criticism and governance concerns

Civil society and economists warned that the policy shift should have been implemented earlier and called for stronger oversight of foreign operators, transparent production reporting, and environmental safeguards. Observers say Zimbabwe must build a mine‑to‑market ecosystem, including refining, manufacturing, and marketing to secure long‑term benefits.

Zimbabwe lithium export ban 2026