BREAKING: Bikita Minerals suspends operations
Bikita Minerals has suspended operations for seven days to address administrative concerns raised by authorities at the plant the company has said in a press release.
“This notice serves to inform our stakeholders and partners that we have put our operations on hold for 7 days to address administrative concerns raised by authorities at our plant.
As a law-abiding corporate, we remain committed to fully comply with all requirements of the law and expect to resume operations once all the outstanding issues have been addressed,” the statement reads.
The said company is working with relevant authorities to ensure the matter is resolved within the stipulated time.
“In the meantime, the company’s leadership is working closely with all relevant authorities to ensure that the matter is resolved within the stipulated time frame,” said the lithium miner.
All Employees have been advised to remain at their residences except for those in care and maintenance.
“During this 7-day period All employees to stay at their homes and residences except for those in care and maintenance. Those on essential services will be required to perform their prescribed duties. Bikita Minerals employs 860 workers, whose contribution we hold so dearly and during this period the company will continue to meet its obligations to them,” concluded the statement.
The Bikita mine is the largest lithium mine in Zimbabwe. The mine is privately owned and holds the world’s largest-known deposit of lithium at approximately 11 million tonnes according to Wikipedia. The mine is located in Masvingo Province. The Bikita Minerals has reserves amounting to 10.8 million tonnes of lithium ore grading 1.4% lithium thus resulting in 0.15 million tonnes of lithium.
In June 2022 Chinese Giant Sinomine Resource Group company bought Bikita Minerals for $200 million.