Zimbabwe is set to begin operations at Africa’s first lithium sulphate plant, marking a major shift in how the country benefits from its vast mineral resources and strengthening its role in the global clean energy supply chain.
The facility, located at Huayou’s Bikita Mine, is being developed by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) in partnership with China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. Recent reports indicate that the project has entered the equipment commissioning phase, meaning key machinery and systems are being tested ahead of full-scale production. The plant represents an estimated US$500 million investment, one of the largest industrial projects in Zimbabwe’s mining sector in recent years.
Once operational, the lithium sulphate plant is expected to produce more than 50,000 metric tonnes annually, with company officials indicating output could exceed 60,000 metric tonnes, depending on the final configuration. Lithium sulphate is a high-value intermediate product used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.
China’s Huayou Cobalt announced in October 2025 that production at the Zimbabwe facility would begin in the first quarter of 2026. Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe general manager Henry Zhu confirmed at the time that the plant was designed to deliver first output early in the year, describing it as a completely new facility built to international standards.
Beyond industrial output, the project is already delivering broader socio-economic benefits. According to local reports, investments linked to the plant have supported infrastructure development, environmental management, healthcare, education, and job creation, particularly in surrounding communities. Company representatives describe the initiative as a catalyst for economic transformation, combining industrial growth with community development.
The lithium sulphate plant reflects a strategic move by Zimbabwe to process minerals locally rather than exporting raw ore, allowing the country to capture greater value from its resources. Lithium, often referred to as “white gold,” is central to the global energy transition, and demand is being driven by the rapid expansion of electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.
Zimbabwe has already emerged as Africa’s leading lithium producer. In 2024, it recorded the continent’s highest lithium output, and production is projected to reach 160,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2030, far ahead of regional peers. During the first half of 2025, the country sold 586,197 metric tonnes of lithium spodumene concentrate, a 30% increase compared with the same period in 2024.
This growth has occurred despite a sharp global price decline. Lithium prices fell from over US$80,000 per tonne in 2022 to about US$8,450 per tonne by June 2025, a drop of roughly 90%. Even so, investment has continued, driven by long-term demand expectations and Zimbabwe’s resource base.
Since 2021, Chinese companies have invested around US$1.4 billion in Zimbabwe’s lithium sector. Major players include Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine Resource Group, Chengxin Lithium, Yahua Group, and Tsingshan Holdings. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, Zimbabwe exported close to 1 million tonnes of spodumene.
With the launch of Africa’s first lithium sulphate plant, Zimbabwe is positioning itself not just as a supplier of raw materials, but as a processing hub within the clean energy value chain, a move that could accelerate industrialisation and deepen its integration into global battery and electric vehicle markets.
Zimbabwe tax reforms take effect as 2026 budget approved
