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Bikita Minerals has announced plans to establish a US$400 million smelting facility—a move that signals the company’s firm commitment to deepening local beneficiation and capturing greater economic value from the country’s vast lithium and rare mineral resources, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Announcing on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the company stated: “Exciting news! Bikita Minerals is planning to set up a $400 million smelting plant for further value addition! This will contribute to the local economy & support Zimbabwe’s economic development goals!”
This comes as Sinomine Resource Group, the Chinese owner of Bikita Minerals, continues to cement its status as one of the most transformative foreign investors in Zimbabwe’s mining sector. The company has already commissioned a series of world-class mineral processing plants—including the world’s first Caesium Flotation Plant (CFP)—positioning Bikita as a critical mineral beneficiation hub on the African continent.
From Petalite to Processing Powerhouse
Once known simply for petalite extraction, Bikita Minerals has undergone an industrial renaissance since Sinomine acquired it in February 2022. The mine, located in Masvingo Province, now houses a suite of advanced processing facilities, including the Gravity Separation Plant (GSP) and Spodumene Flotation Plant (SFP)—each designed to process specific lithium-bearing minerals with increased efficiency and reduced waste.
The company has grown its resource base from 29.41 million tonnes to 113.35 million tonnes, a near fourfold expansion that justifies its current focus on vertical integration and in-country value addition. Now, with a US$400 million smelter in the pipeline, the final piece of Zimbabwe’s lithium beneficiation puzzle is falling into place.
The Cesium Gamechanger: A Global First for Zimbabwe
Among the many milestones at Bikita, the commissioning of the Cesium Flotation Plant in May 2025 stands out as a landmark achievement—not just for Zimbabwe, but for the world. The CFP is the first facility globally dedicated to recovering low-grade cesium ores, putting Zimbabwe on the map of high-tech mineral supply chains essential for defence, medical imaging, 5G, and aerospace industries.
What makes the CFP exceptional is its multi-mineral recovery strategy. Instead of focusing solely on pollucite—the primary cesium ore—the plant also extracts spodumene and lepidolite, ensuring maximum yield from every tonne mined. This integrated beneficiation model boosts profitability, reduces environmental waste, and creates a blueprint for responsible mining in Africa.
Spodumene Production Soars, Costs Plummet
Bikita’s SFP has become a symbol of smart mining economics. By deploying new flotation techniques and plant upgrades, the company has slashed spodumene production costs. Such cost control not only makes Bikita globally competitive, it also insulates it from low international lithium prices that have destabilised less efficient producers.
Powering Progress: Energy Infrastructure and Solar Backup
Beneficiation requires stable energy, and Sinomine is delivering. A new 132kV power line has been installed, linking Bikita to Masvingo, Nyika, and Zaka. The company is also constructing a 20MW solar project to future-proof its operations, ensuring energy security while lowering carbon emissions.
This infrastructure does more than power machines; it uplifts communities by strengthening grid resilience and powering schools, clinics, and water systems in surrounding areas.
Community Impact: ESG Beyond Compliance
Where other investors have promised and fled, Sinomine has built and delivered. The company has drilled over 36 community boreholes, improved roads, equipped clinics, and upgraded local schools. These initiatives earned Bikita national and international recognition, including the ESG Green Champion Award and the Responsible Mining & Clean Energy Champion Award in 2024.
This approach—where economic gain is matched with social impact—demonstrates a new model of foreign investment that aligns with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
The Smelter: Completing the Value Chain
The proposed US$400 million smelter is the most significant step yet. While petalite and spodumene have been processed for export, smelting brings the potential for in-country production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate—the high-value inputs needed in global battery and EV markets.
If implemented, the smelter will reduce Zimbabwe’s dependence on raw exports, increase forex retention, generate new jobs, and place the country on a more equal footing with lithium refiners in China, South Korea, and Europe.
From Mine to Market—On Zimbabwe’s Terms
Bikita Minerals, under Sinomine’s stewardship, is showing that Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth need not be a curse—it can be the cornerstone of local industrialisation, jobs, and energy transformation. With the $400 million smelter now on the table, and an existing backbone of beneficiation plants already in operation, Bikita is on track to become Africa’s most advanced lithium and cesium processing complex.
As the world races toward electrification, Zimbabwe must insist that its minerals drive not only global innovation but also national development. With the right policy support, transparency, and community accountability, Bikita’s trajectory could very well be the future of African mining.
