Bikita processing plants have vast potential to revolutionize lithium beneficiation
The country’s biggest lithium producer, Bikita Minerals’ lithium petalite and spodumene plants project has the capacity to transform and spearhead the lithium mineral beneficiation and processing industry in Zimbabwe, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Zhemu Soda has said.
Rudairo Mapuranga
In July, Bikita Minerals announced that it had completed the construction of two plants, one with an annual capacity to produce 480,000 tonnes of petalite, and another to produce 300,000 tonnes of chemical-grade spodumene concentrate, used widely by battery makers.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the Bikita Minerals, Petalite, and Spodumene Processing Plant by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Bikita on Wednesday, Minister Soda said the plants possess the capability to beneficiate spodumene and petalite low-grade to higher grades while yielding large quantities of the lithium mineral.
“Your Excellency, I must express that this project has the potential to transform and spearhead the lithium mineral beneficiation and processing industry.
“The facility possesses the capability to beneficiate spodumene and petalite low-grade soils to higher grades while yielding large quantities of the lithium mineral with the output grade being as stipulated in our lithium policy.
“As the Ministry, we remain steadfast in our dedication to collaborating with and serving our private sector allies in order to foster progressive and enduring practices within the mining and mineral process sphere.
Speaking at the same event President Mnangagwa said additional investment should be made by Bikita towards the manufacturing of glass, enamel and ceramics from its petalite to ensure the country benefits extensively.
“The expansion of the old petalite plant with the associated increase of petalite throughput to 480 000 tonnes per annum up from the current 30 000 tonnes should have broader ripple effects. Riding on these raw materials, I call for additional investment on related value chains such as the manufacturing of glass, enamel, and ceramics given the rapid expansion of our construction and related manufacturing industry base,” President Mnangagwa said.
Zimbabwe hopes lithium exports will help the economy boost forex earnings. However, lithium prices are falling globally, with lithium carbonate prices down 75% over the past half-year, according to a report this week by S&P Global. The drop is due to weaker demand in China for electric vehicles and surplus stocks of lithium. However, analysts at Fitch expect prices to rise, forecasting a global lithium shortage in 2025.