Staff Reporter

MARONDERA– The drop in international prices for lithium resulted in local company, Shengxiang Investments Private (Limited) halting processing lithium at its plant in Goromonzi for six months.

The mining company’s director of operations Terrence Ncube revealed this on the sidelines of a recent tour organised by the secretary for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Tavabarira Kutamahufa. The company now intends to resume operations in March following an improvement in global prices during the temporary stoppage.

“We stopped lithium processing in September last year and we have started doing antimony, that is mining and processing it. The product that we will have here is antimony concentrate, which is a key component in the manufacturing of batteries.

“We have our market in China. On a normal day, we produce about 50 tonnes and about 300 tonnes per week. We are mining it in Kadoma but we transport it to Goromonzi for further processing,” Ncube, who said.

However, the company is planning to do lithium processing again.

“In March, we should start again. That is our plan and we will revert to lithium processing because prices are now looking good. We have already engaged a local partner who is into lithium mining. We are hopeful on the success of that plan,” he added.

The tour was meant to give authorities an opportunity to witness first-hand and assess the company’s operations, with the intention to provide the after care of existing and operating in the province.

Ncube appealed to Government to allow commercial miners to pay electricity bills using both local and foreign currency.

Kutamahufa appreciated the company’s efforts in uplifting the province’s development saying they were excited to have them as they were adding value to its minerals thereby creating employment.

Kutamahufa said: “When they established this factory, the intention was to value add lithium and ultimately manufacture lithium batteries. Unfortunately, they stopped doing value addition to lithium because of prices beyond their control. However, what is encouraging is that they have switched on to add value to another mineral.

“This company is still relevant to us as a province. They are still part of the important mining sector in terms of value addition and beneficiation of minerals. Further to that, they have employed 270 people and many others along the value chain. They have many social corporate responsibilities that we envy and are a welcome development to our province.”

The company is expected to bring further community developments to Mashonaland East province in consultation with the relevant Ministries