Martin Ma, China Representative Director of the International Lithium Association (ILiA), has called on Zimbabwe to develop domestic lithium processing capacity to capture greater value from its rapidly growing mining sector, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the Chamber of Mines Annual Conference Lithium Symposium, Ma, who was visiting Zimbabwe and Africa for the first time, said, “Seeing is believing,” and what he witnessed in the local industry explains why Zimbabwe’s lithium sector has expanded so rapidly in recent years.
Ma presented a global supply chain map showing that East Asia, led by China, Japan and South Korea, dominates EV and battery manufacturing, with China being the world’s largest producer of lithium chemicals. Europe is moving slowly on battery manufacturing capacity, while the Americas are largely driven by Tesla. This concentration, he argued, makes restructuring the lithium supply chain urgent.
He noted that Zimbabwe’s spodumene supply has grown remarkably over the past three years. Currently, lithium is sourced from hard rock (spodumene and lepidolite) and brine, with lepidolite being low-grade and costly to process, making local processing the most suitable option. China remains the leading refiner, but Australia and Zimbabwe are expected to increase their refining capacity gradually.
Ma recalled that when he joined a lithium company in the 1990s, global lithium carbonate equivalent demand was below 100,000 tonnes. Last year, it reached approximately 1.6 million tonnes, and demand is expected to continue growing.
He divided the new energy supply chain into upstream (mining and lithium salts), midstream (cathodes, batteries, separators, anodes and electrolytes), and downstream (OEMs). He noted that while only cathodes and electrolytes currently consume lithium, the emergence of solid-state batteries could change that.
Challenges of Moving Up the Value Chain
Shifting from exporting ore to producing battery-grade lithium carbonate or hydroxide changes the customer base entirely—from traders to cathode manufacturers, battery producers and OEMs. These high-end customers require rigorous quality management systems and ESG standards, with qualification processes taking between six and 12 months, or even longer for premium clients.
Ma pointed to Europe’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which requires at least 40% of refining capacity to come from external sources, describing it as a clear opportunity for Zimbabwe given its proximity to Europe. Morocco was also highlighted as a potential partner due to its phosphate resources and trade ties with Europe.
He outlined several success factors:
- Partnering with technical providers, as Chinese companies can supply mature technology and equipment.
- Maintaining sustainable government policies and regulatory compliance.
- Securing long-term off-take agreements with battery manufacturers and OEMs, including their investment in projects.
- Accessing financial backing. Ecobank, for instance, has deployed US$369 million to mining operators and related businesses between 2021 and 2025.
- Strengthening industry collaboration. ILiA has published carbon footprint guidance already adopted by OEMs, which can help smaller producers meet global standards.
As Zimbabwe advances its beneficiation strategy, Ma stressed that long-term success will depend not only on ore quality but also on the ability to meet evolving global standards—a challenge that also presents a historic opportunity.
