In a landmark visit to the Arcadia Lithium Mine, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Winston Chitando, officially commended the operation for its pioneering lithium sulphate plant, hailing it as a direct result of the government’s strategic policy to transform Zimbabwe into a key player in the global battery supply chain, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The ministerial tour of the facility, operated by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), a subsidiary of Chinese giant Huayou Cobalt, showcased the advanced stages of the US$400 million processing plant—the first of its kind in Africa and only the third globally. Minister Chitando positioned the project as the physical manifestation of the nation’s economic ambitions.
“This mine here is a direct product of Zimbabwe’s ‘Open for Business’ mantra and also a major step in the achievement of the 2030 development vision,” stated Minister Chitando during the tour. “What we see here are the fruits of that policy, where we move from extraction and processing all the way to a material going straight into the battery-making phase.”
The Arcadia project is a central pillar in Zimbabwe’s concerted push to move beyond raw material extraction and capture greater value from its mineral resources. This strategy was cemented by the government’s announcement of a ban on all lithium concentrate exports, effective January 2027.
Minister Chitando explicitly connected the plant’s development to this policy, noting that the new capacity makes the export ban feasible. “Because of the processing capacity which is now in the country, the export of all lithium concentrates will be banned from January 2027,” the Minister confirmed, underscoring the government’s commitment to compelling producers to refine domestically.
The Arcadia plant is strategically ahead of this curve. When fully operational, it is designed to transform spodumene concentrate into 50,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium sulphate annually—a critical precursor chemical for the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems worldwide.
The investment at Arcadia is a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s mining sector, which holds the largest lithium reserves in Africa, estimated at 480,000 metric tonnes. The project has rapidly progressed from construction to production, with the first batch of lithium sulphate expected by early 2026.
The economic implications are already being felt locally. The plant’s construction has created numerous employment opportunities for residents of Goromonzi District, with further hiring expected upon its operational launch. Beyond capital investment, the mine has undertaken significant infrastructure projects, including the construction and tarring of several kilometres of road, which has improved connectivity and is set to enhance the district’s attractiveness to more investors.
Henry Zhu, Managing Director of Arcadia Technology Zimbabwe (ATZ), framed the investment as a game-changer. “Not only has this plant created jobs and stimulated local economic activity, but it also showcases Zimbabwe’s potential as a major player in the global lithium market,” Zhu stated.
The project’s significance extends beyond national borders. Parent company Huayou Cobalt’s recent accession to China’s prestigious Green and Low-Carbon Advanced Technology Innovation Platform directly links Zimbabwe’s lithium output to the highest international environmental and technological standards. This ensures that the lithium sulphate produced at Arcadia is destined for the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturers, embedding Zimbabwe within a global vision for cleaner energy and responsible mineral extraction.
The Arcadia mine solidifies its status as a benchmark for foreign direct investment in Zimbabwe’s mining sector. As Minister Chitando concluded, the project is a testament to a policy where the government “attracts capital and also has all the players undertake value addition.”
With the 2027 export ban looming, the Arcadia lithium sulphate plant stands as a leading example of the industrial transformation Zimbabwe is striving to achieve, positioning the nation not just as a source of raw materials but as an emerging architect of the world’s low-carbon future.
