Harare, (New Ziana) — Zimbabwe has taken a historic leap in mineral beneficiation and industrial transformation, with Cabinet announcing major progress on the construction of Africa’s first-ever Lithium Sulphate Plant by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, which operates the Arcadia Lithium Mine in Goromonzi.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said Cabinet had considered an update on lithium beneficiation by the company, which is investing US$400 million in the world-class project.

Dr Muswere described the development as a major milestone in Zimbabwe’s quest to move up the global value chain for strategic minerals, particularly lithium — a key input in the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy industries.

“The plant is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and Africa, incorporating cutting-edge technology for lithium sulphate production,” said Dr Muswere.
“Lithium sulphate is a direct input into battery manufacturing and has other uses in the wider manufacturing sector.”

The Lithium Sulphate Plant, currently under construction at the Goromonzi site, comprises three production lines, each capable of processing 500 000 metric tonnes of concentrate per annum.

The first production line is expected to come on stream in January 2026, while the second and third lines are scheduled for commissioning in April 2026.

Once fully operational, the facility will produce 80 000 metric tonnes of lithium sulphate annually, generating approximately US$320 million in revenue.

The project will also create more than 1 000 jobs, providing a significant boost to local employment and economic activity in Mashonaland East Province.

By producing lithium sulphate locally, Zimbabwe is expected to significantly increase its participation in the global battery and electric mobility value chain.

This positions the nation as a strategic player in the clean energy transition, paving the way for potential electric vehicle assembly and battery manufacturing in the near future.

Dr Muswere emphasized that such investments underscore government’s commitment to ensuring that Zimbabwe’s natural resources benefit its citizens through employment creation, technological advancement, and sustainable economic growth.

The Arcadia project, thus, marks a significant step forward in realizing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy, driven by innovation, industrialization, and beneficiation of local resources.

New Ziana