The Zimbabwean government and China's Huayou Group have opened the country's first lithium processing plant to produce lithium sulphate [1], [2].
This development represents a shift in Zimbabwe's economic strategy to move away from the wholesale export of raw materials. By processing minerals locally, the government aims to capture more value from its natural resources before a scheduled ban on lithium concentrate exports takes effect in January 2027 [3], [4].
The facility, located in the Victoria Falls region, was reported as operational on April 28, 2026 [1], [5]. The plant construction cost was $400 million [1]. This project is part of a broader U.S. $1 billion investment drive into Zimbabwe's lithium processing sector, led largely by Chinese firms [6].
"This inaugural shipment marks a milestone for Zimbabwe's lithium sector and demonstrates the benefits of local processing," said a spokesperson for Huayou Group [1].
Zimbabwe is currently expanding its capacity to meet global demand for battery minerals. The government has set a forecast for lithium sulphate output of 344,000 tonnes by 2030 [3]. While some industry reports indicate other processing plants are currently under construction, the Huayou facility is identified as the first to begin operations [1], [7].
"We are committed to building a robust local processing industry to maximise the benefits of our lithium resources," said Zimbabwe Mining Minister Winston Chitando [3].
According to Africa News, the opening of the plant cements Zimbabwe's position as Africa's top lithium producer [2].
“"This inaugural shipment marks a milestone for Zimbabwe's lithium sector"”
The transition from exporting raw concentrate to refined lithium sulphate allows Zimbabwe to integrate further into the global electric vehicle supply chain. By implementing a hard deadline for raw exports in January 2027, the government is forcing foreign investors to build industrial infrastructure within its borders rather than simply extracting ore.
