Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

• Arcadia Mine Targets Year-End Crude Lithium Carbonate Output, Adding to Zimbabwe’s Processed Lithium Arsenal

Barely a month after making history with Africa’s first lithium sulphate exports, Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ)‘s Arcadia Lithium Mine in Goromonzi is already moving to expand its processed lithium portfolio, with plans to produce crude lithium carbonate by the end of 2026, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

In an exclusive interview with Mining Zimbabwe, PLZ General Manager Haijun Zhu confirmed that the company, a wholly owned subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, is actively adding new equipment to its Arcadia Lithium Mine in Goromonzi District to enable the production of crude lithium carbonate. Once operational, PLZ aims for a 50/50 output split between lithium sulphate and lithium carbonate.

“Yes, we are trying to move forward,” Zhu said. “We hope that by the end of this year, we should be able to produce crude lithium carbonate. We need to add some equipment.”

The announcement signals the next phase of Zimbabwe’s rapid ascent in the global battery supply chain, building on the government’s strategic push, which has already achieved a 106% quarterly revenue surge on virtually flat export volumes despite a full-month March ban.

From Sulphate to Carbonate: A Natural Progression

PLZ’s Arcadia mine represents the country’s most advanced downstream lithium facility. After commissioning a US$400 million processing plant in late 2025, the company officially began exporting lithium sulphate in April 2026, a high-value intermediate salt used to produce lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate for EV batteries, grid storage, and consumer electronics.

The plant currently has a nameplate production capacity of 50,000 tonnes per annum of lithium sulphate, with early exports already moving to international markets.

Adding crude lithium carbonate would mark a decisive broadening of PLZ’s product suite. Crucially, unlike the company’s flagship lithium sulphate, which has been the subject of milestone exports, the proposed carbonate would be crude lithium carbonate, a distinct intermediate product that requires further refining to reach battery-grade purity.

Zhu’s planned 50/50 split would position PLZ as one of the most diversified battery mineral processors in Africa, capable of supplying multiple chemical pathways to downstream refineries.

What Is Crude Lithium Carbonate? Understanding the Value Chain

To fully appreciate PLZ’s ambition, it is essential to understand where crude lithium carbonate fits in the production chain from mine to battery.

Crude lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) is an intermediate product obtained from the processing of lithium-containing minerals such as spodumene or from the recycling of lithium-ion battery waste. It represents a midway point in the value chain – more refined than raw spodumene concentrate but not yet pure enough for battery applications.

The global benchmark for battery-grade lithium carbonate is a purity of 99.5% or above, with stringent limits on metallic and chemical impurities to ensure electrochemical stability and battery cycle life. Crude lithium carbonate typically falls below this threshold, requiring further purification to meet the specifications for EV and energy storage batteries.

The carbonisation method is one common refinement route: crude lithium carbonate reacts with carbon dioxide and water to form lithium bicarbonate, which is then thermally decomposed to regenerate lithium carbonate at battery-grade purity.

Once refined, lithium carbonate serves as a critical raw material for lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, a chemistry that dominates energy storage systems and is rapidly gaining market share in the EV sector due to its lower cost, longer cycle life, and superior thermal stability. In contrast, PLZ’s existing lithium sulphate is typically refined into lithium hydroxide, the preferred feedstock for nickel-rich cathodes such as NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt), used in premium EVs.

Thus, PLZ’s planned 50/50 portfolio would position the company to supply both major battery chemistries: crude lithium carbonate as an input for LFP-oriented refineries and lithium sulphate as an input for NMC-oriented refineries. This flexibility reduces dependency on any single downstream market segment, a crucial strategic hedge given fluctuating EV adoption rates and shifting battery chemistries.

Perfect Timing: Lithium Market Enters Deficit

PLZ’s crude lithium carbonate timeline coincides with a tightening global lithium market that analysts now characterise as structurally supply-constrained.

UBS recently raised its 2026 China lithium carbonate spot price forecast by 18% to RMB200,000 per tonne (US$28,200/t), with projections that spot prices could reach RMB250,000/t between May and June 2026. The upgrade reflects a 60% year-on-year surge in energy storage battery demand alongside tightening ore supply following Zimbabwe’s February concentrate export ban.

By March 2026, UBS estimated a global supply-demand deficit of approximately 65,000 tonnes LCE for the full year, driving a significant re-rating of lithium equities. The bank raised 2026 earnings forecasts for leading Chinese lithium stocks by 10% to 40%, exceeding market consensus by 56% to 211%, and maintained “Buy” ratings across the sector.

Data from InfoLink confirms the rally. As of mid-May, battery-grade lithium carbonate was trading in a range of RMB190,000–200,000/MT, up 12.7% week on week, with spodumene concentrate (SC6) CIF prices reaching US$2,750–2,850/MT, a 12.4% weekly gain.

China’s lithium carbonate output remains in a ramp-up cycle, with leading smelters maintaining high operating rates. However, lithium ore supply remains relatively tight. April–May seaborne cargoes are largely locked in, leaving limited room for spot replenishment, while ore-side inventory drawdowns continue.

Demand from energy storage systems (ESS) has emerged as the core driver of this market revaluation. UBS estimates global ESS battery demand will grow by 60% year on year, accounting for 17% of total lithium consumption compared to EV batteries’ 53% share.

This market backdrop makes PLZ’s carbonate timeline strategically significant. Each month of production delay risks leaving money on the table as rising prices increase the value of every tonne of processed material.

Beyond Carbonate: A Fully Integrated Power Play

PLZ’s downstream ambitions extend well beyond chemistry diversification. The company has constructed a 70-megawatt on-site power plant capable of supplying electricity to both PLZ and its sister company, Arcadia Technology Zimbabwe (ATZ).

“The power plant is meant to supply electricity to both PLZ and ATZ, and we are hopeful that by the second half of 2026 both entities will be fully operational,” PLZ Public Relations Manager Patience Chizodza said during a government tour of the facility.

The Arcadia complex now employs 2,000 workers directly and another 2,000 indirectly, with the majority drawn from surrounding communities. The company is also rehabilitating roads, constructing dams, building schools and clinics, and implementing community development programmes covering health enhancement, vocational education for youth, women’s empowerment, and energy equity.

The Bigger Picture: Zimbabwe’s Lithium Industry Takes Shape

PLZ’s Arcadia mine is now fully owned by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt after the Chinese group acquired the remaining minority stake in 2025, bringing its ownership to 100%.

Additional exploration at Arcadia has increased the mine’s remaining lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) resources from 1.5 million tonnes to 2.45 million tonnes, while ore grade has risen to 1.34%, significantly above the global spodumene average of 1.0–1.2%.

This upgraded resource base gives PLZ considerable runway for expanded downstream processing beyond the current 50,000 tpa sulphate capacity. Should the crude carbonate line prove successful, the company could scale towards its earlier stated ambition of producing more than 60,000 tonnes of processed lithium annually.

Zimbabwe as a whole is expected to produce about 124,000–180,000 tonnes of LCE in 2026, representing roughly 7–8.4% of global supply. The country remains a key supplier to China, providing around 15% of its spodumene imports.

Under the government’s Mineral Classification and Declaration gazetted on 22 May 2026, lithium is formally designated as a “critical mineral” alongside nickel, cobalt, graphite, copper, rare earth elements, chrome, PGMs, and eight others, banning raw or unbeneficiated exports without a conditional transitional plan. The framework mandates state shareholding through special-purpose vehicles (SPVs) and requires prior ministerial approval for all mining rights relating to critical minerals.

PLZ’s early compliance, from lithium sulphate production to the planned carbonate line, positions it as a model partner in Zimbabwe’s beneficiation-driven resource strategy.

Zhu’s year-end target for crude lithium carbonate is ambitious but achievable, requiring additional equipment to be sourced, installed, and commissioned over the coming six to seven months. The company’s existing infrastructure, including the 70 MW power plant, provides a solid foundation for this expansion.

If successful, PLZ will become Africa’s first producer of multiple lithium salt products from a single facility. For Zimbabwe, that success would further entrench the country’s position as a vertically integrated partner for the world’s leading battery manufacturers, not just a source of raw rock.

For investors and mining executives watching Zimbabwe’s lithium transformation, the question is no longer whether local processing will happen, but how fast it can scale. PLZ’s crude carbonate timeline, along with competitor moves such as Bikita Minerals’ US$400 million lithium sulphate plant, suggests that Zimbabwe’s downstream lithium industry is accelerating faster than almost anyone had projected.

Victoria Falls Stock Exchange-listed bullion producer Caledonia Mining’s 2025 exploration at the Motapa property in Zimbabwe has returned high-grade intersections that could turn the project into a strategic extension of its Bilboes mining complex, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The company envisions a combined operation that would enhance production and extend Bilboes’ life. Motapa lies directly adjacent to Bilboes, which has proven and probable reserves of 1.75 million ounces of gold in 24.1 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 2.26 grams per tonne.

Shared infrastructure and operational synergies between the two properties could improve project economics and reduce capital intensity, Caledonia noted.

The 2025 drilling programme tested sulphide mineralisation below historical oxide open pits and identified new zones across Motapa. Results confirm the continuity of mineralisation along a six-kilometre strike within the Bubi Greenstone Belt, with multiple shear zones at Motapa North, Central and South. Both oxide and sulphide mineralisation support near-term and long-term development.

“These promising results from Motapa demonstrate the potential to significantly enhance the long-term value of the company’s Bilboes project,” CEO Mark Learmonth said. “The consistent high-grade intersections at Motapa North highlight the opportunity to define a substantial resource in close proximity to the planned infrastructure at Bilboes.”

Learmonth added: “While our immediate focus remains the development of Bilboes, targeting first gold in the fourth quarter of 2028, Motapa represents a compelling opportunity to extend mine life and increase future production across a combined mining complex.”

Selected highlights from Motapa North include 19 metres at 8.08 grams per tonne (hole JPRC52), 6.38 metres at 13.95 g/t (JDD11), 12 metres at 7.12 g/t (JPRC63), and 14 metres at 4.31 g/t (PLV5RC4). At Motapa Central (Mpudzi), highlights include 7 metres at 2.39 g/t (MPZRC79) and 3 metres at 4.79 g/t (MPZRC64).

A maiden mineral resource estimate for portions of Motapa is expected in the third quarter of this year.

The 2024 exploration programme comprised 12,724 metres of trenching, 4,143 metres of diamond drilling and 5,433 metres of reverse circulation drilling. In 2025, Caledonia completed 22,364 metres of trenching, 1,562 metres of diamond drilling and 18,547 metres of reverse circulation drilling. Surface trenching at Motapa South has also identified anomalous areas with no evidence of historical open-pit workings.

The significance of Bilboes to Caledonia extends beyond its reserve grade. As the company’s first wholly owned flagship project, it represents a shift from its historic reliance on Blanket Mine, offering full cash flow retention and a platform for growth in Zimbabwe’s gold sector. The Motapa drill results therefore carry strategic weight: they suggest Bilboes could evolve from a standalone asset into a multi-deposit hub, lowering per-ounce costs through shared infrastructure and potentially pushing output beyond 200,000 ounces annually.

Zimbabwe’s large-scale gold mines are on track for their first annual output increase since 2023, with deliveries through May already outpacing the rate recorded during a subdued 2025, according to data from Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR), Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

Large-scale producers delivered 5.23 metric tonnes in the first five months of 2026, up about 13.6% from the 4.60 tonnes delivered during the same period in 2025, according to Fidelity Gold Refinery data. The segment produced 11.8 tonnes for the whole of 2025, its lowest annual total since 2022.

The stronger start to 2026 follows a gradual improvement in monthly deliveries after a weak January. Large-scale output fell 10.5% year-on-year to 808.4 kilograms in the opening month but recovered steadily thereafter.

Deliveries rose to 1,105.3 kilograms in March, up 14% from the same month in 2025. Momentum accelerated in April, when deliveries reached 1,213.9 kilograms, a 28.3% increase year-on-year, before remaining broadly stable at 1,210.3 kilograms in May, up 22.2%.

The recovery reflects more than stronger bullion prices, with major miners also benefiting from access to higher-grade ore, fresh capital investment, and a relatively stable operating environment.

Gold is forecast to average US$4,600 to US$5,000 an ounce in 2026, improving margins for industrial producers. Caledonia Mining Corp.’s Blanket Mine has guided for 72,000 to 76,500 ounces this year, with higher-grade ore expected in the second half, while Kuvimba Mining House has allocated US$54 million for equipment upgrades across its gold assets, including Freda Rebecca, Shamva, and Jena mines.

Unlike the artisanal sector, large-scale miners have also largely avoided the policy disruptions that affected gold deliveries earlier this year. In March, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe introduced a requirement for small-scale miners to receive 10% of their gold payments in local currency, triggering a 30.8% month-on-month decline in artisanal deliveries as some operators halted production.

The central bank suspended the measure in early April following industry concerns, restoring full foreign-currency payments. Throughout the period, however, large-scale producers retained their usual 70% foreign-currency retention threshold, helping shield operations from the disruption.

That distinction is important in a sector where artisanal and small-scale miners remain the dominant source of gold production. The segment accounted for nearly 75% of Zimbabwe’s record 46.7 tonnes of gold output in 2025. Deliveries from artisanal miners rebounded strongly in May, rising 29.9% year-on-year to 2,744.2 kilograms.

Even so, current trends point to a meaningful recovery in large-scale mining. Based on year-to-date performance and producer guidance, full-year deliveries are projected at between 14.5 and 15.5 tonnes in 2026, representing growth of 23% to 31% from last year’s 11.8 tonnes.

Reaching the lower end of that range would require average monthly deliveries of about 1,325 kilograms between June and December, modestly above the levels recorded in April and May. Achieving the upper end would require monthly deliveries of roughly 1,468 kilograms.

Further growth could come from new projects moving through the development pipeline. The Dokwe Gold Project in Matabeleland North, owned by Ariana Resources, hosts proven and probable reserves of 1.13 million ounces and is designed to produce as much as 100,000 ounces annually, equivalent to about 3.1 tonnes. A definitive feasibility study is expected in the first quarter of 2027, while commissioning is targeted for late 2026 or early 2027.

Seasonal factors may also support production in the months ahead. The second half of the year typically delivers stronger industrial output as drier operating conditions improve mining activity and expansion projects gather pace. With gold prices remaining elevated and major producers maintaining their guidance, Zimbabwe’s large-scale mining sector appears well positioned to record its first annual production increase since 2023.

Zimbabwe’s push for local content and beneficiation has come under fresh scrutiny after new trade data revealed a record US$23.2 million import bill for specialised underground mining machinery in April 2026, exposing the extent to which the country’s mining boom continues to depend on foreign manufacturers, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

Latest figures from ZimStat show that imports of self-propelled coal and rock cutters and tunnelling machinery surged from just US$604,000 in March to US$23.2 million in April, an increase of more than US$22.6 million in a single month.

The unprecedented jump points to major mining projects entering critical development and commissioning phases. Yet it also highlights a less visible side of Zimbabwe’s mining growth story: some of the largest procurement contracts generated by the sector are still being awarded outside the country.

The April figure was more than fourteen times larger than any previous monthly import recorded in the category. Between January 2021 and April 2026, monthly imports of tunnelling machinery had never exceeded US$1.6 million.

At the same time, imports of self-propelled bulldozers and excavators climbed to a record US$17.2 million in April from US$16.6 million in March, extending a steady upward trend that has accelerated alongside mining expansion across the country.

Together, the figures paint a picture of an industry investing heavily in new capacity. However, they also expose a growing gap between mineral development and local industrial participation.

For every dollar spent on imported tunnelling machines, underground development equipment, and specialised mining machinery, the associated manufacturing, fabrication, and engineering value is largely captured outside Zimbabwe. While local businesses benefit from mining-related spending on transport, fuel, construction materials, security services, and labour, the highest-value equipment purchases continue to flow offshore.

Policy Ambition Meets Reality

The data arrives at a time when Government is intensifying its push for beneficiation, value addition, and local content through the National Development Strategy 2 and the newly launched Local Content Strategy. The stated ambition is to significantly raise local participation in strategic sectors over the coming decade.

But the April import figures highlight a critical missing link: enforceable procurement targets. Zimbabwe has no binding requirement for mining companies to source specialised underground equipment locally.

Compare that to Chile, which mandates that mining companies above a certain size report local procurement annually, with targets that rise over a decade. Or South Africa’s Mining Charter, which includes local content thresholds for capital goods. Without similar teeth, Zimbabwe’s strategy remains largely aspirational.

The foreign currency implications are stark. Mining exports generate billions of dollars annually, but large-scale equipment imports drain a substantial portion of those earnings. While such machinery is essential for future production growth, the immediate benefits of manufacturing and assembly accrue to industrial centres outside Zimbabwe.

Two Stories, One Question

The April surge therefore tells two stories. One is of growing investor confidence and a robust pipeline of mining projects moving towards production. The other is of a policy gap that allows record mining investment to be accompanied by record machinery imports with little structural benefit to local industry.

Until Zimbabwe develops stronger capabilities in mining equipment manufacturing, assembly, and engineering services, or at least sets phased, enforceable local-content targets, some of the largest cheques written during the country’s mining boom will continue to support factories beyond its borders.

The question for policymakers is no longer whether Zimbabwe can attract mining investment. It clearly can. The question is whether the next phase of the mining boom will finally write local factories into the story, or whether April’s US$23.2 million import bill will become a new baseline rather than an anomaly.

Artisanal deliveries climb to 2,740 kg, up 7.4% year-on-year, as large-scale output holds steady. The first five months of 2026 reach 16.59 tonnes, keeping the 50-tonne national target firmly on track.

Gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) recorded their strongest monthly performance so far this year in May 2026, driven by a sharp rebound in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) output, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Total deliveries for the month reached 3,951.0136 kg, an 18.8% increase from April 2026’s 3,324.5926 kg and an 11.5% rise compared to May 2025’s 3,542.1734 kg, according to official FGR statistics obtained by this publication.

The ASM sector, which contributes roughly three-quarters of national gold production, led the charge. ASM deliveries in May 2026 stood at 2,740.7582 kg, up 29.9% from April’s 2,110.6550 kg and 7.4% higher than May 2025’s 2,552.0986 kg. The month-on-month surge is the largest recorded since the formalisation drive accelerated in late 2025, signalling that policy interventions and improved access to buying centres are beginning to bear fruit.

Large-scale miners delivered 1,210.2554 kg in May, virtually unchanged from April’s 1,213.9376 kg—a negligible 0.3% decline month-on-month. However, compared to May 2025’s 990.0748 kg, large-scale output jumped 22.2%, reflecting the steady recovery of capitalised mines following years of underinvestment.

First Five Months: 2026 Extends Lead Over 2025

Cumulative deliveries for the first five months of 2026 now stand at 16,587.5302 kg, compared to 16,013.8013 kg in the same period of 2025, representing a 3.6% increase. The widening margin is encouraging, especially given that April 2026 had briefly trailed April 2025 on a year-on-year basis. May’s strong performance has reversed that temporary softness.

At this pace, Zimbabwe has already delivered over 16.5 tonnes of gold in the first five months, leaving 33.5 tonnes to reach the ambitious 50-tonne annual target. Historical production patterns show that the second and third quarters (May through September) are typically the strongest, as drier weather and post-harvest labour availability boost ASM activity.

50-Tonne Target: Within Striking Distance

To achieve 50 tonnes by year-end, Zimbabwe needs average monthly deliveries of approximately 4,180 kg for the remaining seven months (June–December). May’s 3,951 kg fell just 5.5% short of that required average—a gap that is well within seasonal norms. In 2025, monthly deliveries exceeded 4,000 kg in July (4,067 kg), August (4,134 kg), and September (4,254 kg). With new capacity coming online, including the phased reopening of Mazowe and Redwing under Namib Minerals, expanded ASM formalisation at Elvington and Amaveni, and the full rollout of FGR’s digital Gold Card system, surpassing 4,200 kg per month in the second half of 2026 is entirely plausible.

FGR’s own projections remain optimistic, citing the Gold Development Initiative Fund (GDIF) and the recently established Gold Trade Enforcement Unit (GTEU) as key levers to reduce leakage to parallel markets. Every kilogram recovered from informal channels directly boosts official delivery figures.

The 29.9% month-on-month jump in ASM deliveries is the clearest evidence yet that the formalisation drive is shifting from disruption to delivery. April’s year-on-year decline of 27.9% had raised concerns, but May’s 7.4% year-on-year growth suggests that the registration backlog and compliance adjustments are behind the sector.

The digital Gold Card system, now being rolled out across all mining provinces, has registered thousands of artisanal miners, granting them access to formal financing, equipment, and technical support.

Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Henrietta Rushwaya described May’s performance as “a turning point,” adding that “the ASM sector has proven its resilience and its capacity to grow within a formal framework. The 50-tonne target is no longer an aspiration—it is a realistic operational goal.”

While ASM grabbed the headlines, large-scale mining delivered a solid, if unspectacular, performance. May’s 1,210.2554 kg was essentially flat month-on-month but represented a 22.2% year-on-year increase, the sixth consecutive month of double-digit annual growth for the segment.

Kavango Resources PLC has entered into a partnership with Gwanda State University (GSU) focused on education, skills development, and research collaboration, a move that aligns with the government’s recently signalled intention to introduce mandatory student attachment policies in the mining sector, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The London and TSX Venture Exchange-listed mining company this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the university aimed at expanding opportunities for student training, research collaboration, and industry exposure.

Under the agreement, GSU students will gain access to work-related learning placements, internships, and field projects, providing the practical experience increasingly required in Zimbabwe’s growing mining industry.

The partnership comes at a time when government is seeking greater involvement from mining companies in developing the next generation of professionals.

Shortly after taking office, Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura signalled plans to introduce compulsory attachment programmes for mining students. He also indicated that government was looking at mechanisms to strengthen skills and knowledge transfer across the sector, potentially requiring mining companies to play a more active role in training future industry talent.

While those proposals have not yet been formalised into policy, Kavango’s agreement with GSU reflects the direction government wants the industry to take.

Following the signing ceremony, Kavango Chief Operating Officer Alex Gorman and General Manager Irvin Nyamukondiwa toured GSU’s recently commissioned laboratory facilities alongside Vice-Chancellor Professor Doreen Zandile Moyo, Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr B. Moyo, Mrs M. Nkomo, and other faculty members.

The company described the laboratories as “an impressive investment in scientific research and practical training” and said it looked forward to exploring additional areas of collaboration with the institution.

“Developing the next generation of mining professionals is essential to the future of Zimbabwe’s mining sector,” Kavango said.

“We look forward to working closely with Gwanda State University to help build the skills and expertise needed for sustainable growth.”

Beyond the signing ceremony, the agreement speaks to a broader challenge facing Zimbabwe’s mining education system.

Over the past decade, universities and colleges have significantly expanded enrolment in mining-related programmes, producing a growing pool of graduates eager to enter the industry. However, attachment and employment opportunities have not expanded at the same pace, leaving many students struggling to secure the placements required to complete their studies.

Industry leaders have repeatedly warned that mining companies can no longer absorb the volume of students seeking industrial attachments. Economic pressures, operational constraints, and fluctuating commodity markets have further reduced the number of opportunities available to new entrants.

A senior executive at a leading mining company recently told Mining Zimbabwe that the situation had become increasingly difficult, with demand for placements far exceeding what the industry can realistically provide.

Against this backdrop, the Kavango-GSU partnership offers a practical example of how collaboration between mining companies and academic institutions can help ease the pressure. More importantly, it demonstrates how industry can begin addressing the skills gap and attachment shortage even before government makes such programmes mandatory.