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Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]

MATABELELAND region is fast gravitating towards being the country’s nerve centre for lithium-oriented firms boosting four high-impact companies that are in various stages of exploration and production and the projects stand to significantly contribute to the country’s economic growth and improve livelihoods.

Globally, demand for lithium, which is used in the rechargeable batteries that power electric vehicles, has surged.

Zimbabwe is considered the sixth largest producer of lithium with an estimated output of 1 600 metric tons and is expected to benefit significantly from the growing demand for the base metal and EVs despite the current slump of commodity prices on the international market.

The multi-million investments that have ripple economic effects are riding on the renewed investment interest in Zimbabwe under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.

Matabeleland South province boasts Premier African Minerals in Fort Rixon.

The Zulu Lithium Mine has been undergoing a series of improvements since 2018 when it published a maiden mineral resource estimate of 20,1 million tonnes grading 1,06 percent lithium oxide and 51 parts per million tantalum oxide.

The mine has also discovered a new zone of mineralisation, which could exceed the projected target in the main zone.

The province also has Gwanda Lithium Mine Zimbabwe at Mandihongola area in Gwanda South, another milestone investment under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.

The new mining venture is a subsidiary of Chinese global investor Tsingshan Holdings Limited Groups, which also is setting up the giant US$1,5 billion Dinson Iron and Steel plant in Mvuma, Midlands province and two other subsidiaries including Dinson

Colliery in Hwange, Matabeleland North province and Afrochine Smelting in Selous near Chegutu, Mashonaland West province.

Construction of the processing plant commenced in December 2022 and ended in December 2023 at a cost of US$54 million under the first phase of the project.

Once production commences, the mine is expected to record a capacity of one million tonnes of ore and 200 000 tons of lithium concentrate annually.

Matabeleland North hosts Kamativi Mine in Hwange District, an awakening giant that had not been operating for almost 30 years, is back in production but mining lithium and not the tin it used to mine.

Geological surveys indicate that Kamativi has higher lithium deposits and a mix of minerals such as tantalite, lithium, beryl, copper, beryllium, value spodumene, petalite and limestone that could be economically exploited outside of tin.

The closure of Kamativi Mine back in 1994 had created a ghost town, which the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa is resuscitating through its engagement and re-engagement drive.

Back in line under Kamativi Mining Company (KMC), a joint venture between Sichuan Pude Technology Group from China and Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), the mine recently commissioned its phase one modern lithium processing plant.

The new investor has reopened the mine and expects to invest a total of US$249 million, this time exploring lithium and not tin.

Phase One of the mine is already successfully running and producing 300  000 tonnes of raw ore and 50 000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum.

Phase two, which will ramp up production to 2,3 million tonnes of raw ore and 300 000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum, is under construction and will be completed mid-year.

The re-opening of Kamativi as a lithium multi-element ore body operation under a US$1,4 billion investment will further unlock huge value from seven minerals with plans to also construct a 20 megawatt solar plant.

Now, the UK resources investor Galileo Resources, which is exploring for lithium and gold in Zimbabwe, this week said it is energised by the assay results from the Phase 1 drilling programme at Kamativi Lithium-Tin Mine which indicate peaking at 1,03 percent lithium oxide (Li2O) over four metres.

The United Kingdom head-quartered firm says it intends to undertake further drilling for lithium and tin.

In its latest update, the firm noted full assay results received for the 10-hole Phase 1 angled drilling programme at Kamativi show extensive lithium enhancement focused on cross-cutting pegmatites/aplites.

While tin was not specifically targeted in the drilling phase, anomalous values were encountered ranging up to 0,19 percent Sn over 1,3m from 95,2m depth in hole KSDD005, it said.

Thin section and XRD mineralogical examination have confirmed the presence of spodumene mineralisation while further work is required to identify the nature of more widespread lithium mineralisation within the host rock.

Spodumene is a lithium bearing rock that is a commercially important source of the base metal.

The mining house says it believes that the drilling and mapping results indicate an extensive hydrothermal event at Kamativi which introduced lithium to the rock package over a substantial area.

Chairman and CEO, Mr Colin Bird said the initial reconnaissance drilling programme has yielded encouraging results peaking at 1,03 percent Li2O over 4 metres.

“An unusual feature of this discovery is the spread of highly anomalous lithium through the mica schist host rock as opposed to being solely contained within the pegmatite.

“We have no doubt that discordant pegmatites are the drivers to lithium content and our mapping programmes have located more discordant pegmatites than previously recognised,” said Mr Bird.

He added that on the basis that the nearby Kamativi Mine was a long-producing tin operation it comes as no surprise that “we also see anomalous tin associated with these discordant pegmatites, in some cases coincident with lithium.”

“We are pleased with the outcome of the reconnaissance drilling programme and our ongoing fieldwork. We plan to undertake further drilling for lithium and tin based on this Phase 1 drilling outcome and results of the mapping work.”

Mr Bird further noted that in addition to the lithium/tin exploration, the firm which set aside a budget of US$1,5 million to explore for lithium and gold at claims held by Sinamatella Holdings has also undertaken exploration over targets in the vicinity of the historic Gwaii Copper Mine in the southern part of the licence, where new soil anomalies have been identified.