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Kuvimba Mining House (KMH) has announced that its lithium entity, Sandawana Mines, is poised to begin construction of a major lithium concentrator plant within the next four to six months, a move set to establish the operation as the largest of its kind in Zimbabwe, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The update was delivered by Kuvimba Mining House Group Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Barnard, at the lithium mine in Mberengwa. He addressed the community and stakeholders, including government and traditional leaders, acknowledging that the project had taken “a lot longer than what we planned initially,” but assuring them that it was now on a clear path forward following the finalisation of partnership agreements.
Barnard outlined an ambitious schedule, targeting the commissioning of the processing plant for the first or second quarter of 2027. He described Sandawana as “one of the best, if not the best, lithium resource in Zimbabwe,” highlighting the high purity and superior grade of the lithium concentrate already being produced, which he stated exceeds international standards.
A cornerstone of the announcement was the reaffirmation that Sandawana Mine will be the only lithium operation in Zimbabwe wholly owned by the nation. “This mine will belong to Zimbabwe and it will produce lithium for Zimbabweans,” Barnard stated, drawing a clear distinction from other lithium projects in the country with foreign equity holders.
The project will be executed through a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model. Under this structure, Kuvimba’s partners—the Chinese metals giants Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. and Tsingshan Holding Group Co.—will finance, build, and operate the concentrator plant. In a unique arrangement, these firms will not hold any equity stake in the mine itself. They will recoup their investment and operate the plant for a period, during which they will train local personnel, before the entire operation is transferred back to Kuvimba Mining House.
Once fully operational, the mine is expected to produce over half a million tonnes of lithium concentrate annually. The long-term plan includes further beneficiation to produce lithium sulphate, in line with government policy.
With the commercial agreements now finalised, the company’s immediate focus is on completing the conditions precedent, with Cabinet approval being the most critical. Upon receiving the green light, the first visible steps on the ground will be earthworks, levelling and compacting the site for the processing plant, followed by foundation work and the installation of large-scale equipment.
Barnard concluded by reiterating Kuvimba’s commitment to its community promises, assuring stakeholders that despite the delays, all undertakings would be honoured as the project moves into its crucial construction phase.
