UK ban on fossil fuel vehicles a golden opportunity for Zimbabwe
The proposal by the United Kingdom (UK) to ban the use of fossil fuel vehicles by 2030 are likely to place Zimbabwe at the forefront of the lithium mining industry, given that it is one of the world’s largest producers.
By Shantel Chisango
On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Borris Johnson declared that his government would speed up the introduction of Electric Vehicles (EVs) from the then announced date 2040 earlier to 2030.
In reality, the implementation of this plan would do Zimbabwe wonders as a nation because it is one of the world’s largest producer of lithium.
Mirrorplex co-founding Managing Director Nyasha Chido, speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, said the UK’s proposals to ban the use of petrol and diesel cars would put this country on the map like never before.
“There are zero implications, it is actually good for Zimbabwe as a country as this will put us on the map, “said Chido.
Chido also added that Zimbabwe is rich in the minerals needed for the development of batteries for electric cars.
“Zimbabwe has almost all the battery minerals that the car manufactures would need to make batteries suitable for the cars,” he added.
Chido argued that the Zimbabwe lithium mining sector will be placed at the forefront of mining worldwide, expressing his support for UK efforts to go green in an attempt to combat climate change.
“My thoughts are if the UK is promoting the plug-in hybrids that means no lithium producing country is opposed to going green anymore. That’s a big deal lithium and all battery metals are now the way to go,” stated Chido.
The ban on the use of petrol and diesel in vehicles whose batteries are mainly manufactured from minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and magnesium that are abundant in Zimbabwe is also a chance for Zimbabwe to seriously consider beneficiation.
Prospect Resources Human Resources Manager Mr. Tinago, in support of the UK’s plans, said that Zimbabwe can increase production in these minerals and also benefit from them by producing chemicals and carbonates for use in the batteries of EVs or by producing the actual batteries of EVs themselves.
“This is an opportunity for Zimbabwe to boost production in these minerals and even beneficiate these minerals through producing chemicals and carbonates for use in the EVs batteries or produce the actual EVs batteries themselves,” said Mr. Tinago.
According to the United States (US) Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020, Zimbabwe stands in the top five of the world’s biggest producer of lithium.
The survey further stated that due to the use of rechargeable lithium batteries in the rising demand for portable electronic devices, as well as in electrical tools, electric vehicles, and grid storage applications, the consumption of lithium for batteries has increased significantly in recent years.