Zheli Mining plans to establish a lithium sulphate plant in Zimbabwe as it moves deeper into beneficiation ahead of the country’s 2027 lithium export ban, with equipment for the project already on its way and expected to arrive in December, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The development was disclosed during the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe’s (MMCZ) lithium media tour of Zheli Mining’s processing plant in Zvishavane on Tuesday, giving a glimpse into the company’s next phase of processing as Zimbabwe pushes for more value to be retained locally.
The proposed sulphate facility will be developed with several Chinese companies and represents a move beyond Zheli’s current spodumene processing operations into downstream lithium chemical production.
Addressing delegates during the tour, Zheli Mining General Manager Kudakwashe Zimondi said the company was preparing to take the next step in beneficiation, with equipment already being shipped to Zimbabwe.
“We are planning to set up a lithium sulphate factory somewhere in Zimbabwe. That is our next step in beneficiation. It will be a joint project with several Chinese companies. The equipment is already on the ship and we are expecting it anytime in December this year,” Zimondi said at the company’s plant.
Zimondi said the company was working with several Chinese partners across its beneficiation plans.
“The beneficiation, it’s going to be a joint project for most of the processing plants. We have a few Chinese companies that we are partnering to bring it to life.”
Zheli Mining was established in 2024 and has invested roughly US$15 million in its operations since then. The company started processing in August 2025 and has since added a second processing line.
The company has an exclusive processing agreement with Mutapa Energy Minerals’ Sandawana Lithium Mine, which supplies spodumene feed to the Zvishavane operation.
Zheli processes low-grade spodumene through a series of stages that include crushing, ball milling, separation, jig tables, shaking tables and flotation. The process removes impurities and upgrades the lithium-bearing material into concentrate.
The plant has two processing lines with a combined feed capacity of about 900 tonnes a day. Management expects throughput to rise above 1,000 tonnes a day once the plant reaches full operating potential.
Zheli has also been building stockpiles to cushion its operations against disruptions during the rainy season, when road conditions can affect the movement of ore from Sandawana to the processing plant.
The planned sulphate plant comes as Zimbabwe seeks to move more of its lithium industry up the value chain before the government’s 2027 deadline for further beneficiation. The policy is aimed at reducing exports of lower-value lithium products and encouraging domestic processing and value addition.
For Zheli, the move into sulphate production would mark a significant shift from concentrating spodumene to producing a downstream lithium chemical, positioning the company to capture more value from Zimbabwe’s growing lithium resources.
