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Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE Sabi Star Lithium Processing Plant in Buhera is expected to be completed in August this year, thereby setting the stage for full scale production of lithium concentrate with an annual turnover of US$600 million.
At full throttle, the project will employ 500 workers, with the majority of them coming from the local and surrounding communities.
The project, which is being spearheaded by Max Mind Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited, has the capacity to produce 3 000 tonnes of lithium concentrate per day, which translates to about 1 095 000 tonnes per year.
The mine has 55 mining claims straddling across 3 800 hectares.
The project has a capital injection of US$130m and is expected to boost foreign currency generation and employment creation.
Mines and Mining Development Minister, Honourable Winston Chitando recently reported to Cabinet on the current progress at the multi-million dollar lithium processing plant, whose construction marks the transformation of the lives of the people of Buhera and Manicaland at large.
This was confirmed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, in a Post-Cabinet briefing last week on Tuesday.
“Since its inception, the Second Republic has put in place measures to attain Vision 2030, that is to become a prosperous and empowered Upper Middle Income Society by 2030.
“Honourable Chitando reported on the projects being implemented by his ministry as follows: The Sabi Star Mine Lithium Processing Plant in Buhera District of Manicaland Province has reached 80 percent of completion, and is expected to yield an annual turnover of US$600 million and employ 500 workers,” said Senator Mutsvangwa.
Max Mind Zimbabwe project manager, Mr Elfas Mugova said upon completion, the mine will rack in US$600m per year, thereby helping to enhance the provincial GDP.
“It is correct that the lithium project is at 80 percent and it is expected to be complete by August.
“Upon completion and at full throttle, we will employ about 500 workers.
The majority of them will be from the local and surrounding communities.
“The project annual turnover is projected at US$600 and by the time we start lithium concentrate mining, US$130m would have been injected into the project,” said Mr Mugova.
The project is expected to have a mining lifespan of over 20 years to justify construction of the expensive smelters to purify the lithium concentrate into lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate.
At least US$250m will be required to set up the value addition and beneficiation plant.Currently, Manicaland’s diamonds, gold and phosphate are taken in their raw form for value addition in Harare and even beyond the country’s boarders.
Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Edgars Seenza said the lithium project addresses the aspect of value addition which is currently missing from other mining ventures.
“What impresses us most is that they will value-add the lithium concentrate onsite. This will grow our economy and have a positive impact on the district and provincial GDPs.
“We implore all those in the extractive sector to also value add the minerals to help grow our GDP.
“We are producing a number of minerals that are being taken to Harare for value addition without substantially benefiting our province,” he said.
The mining sector is expected to play a critical role in the attainment of Vision 2030 and Manicaland is one of the country’s mining hubs. Productivity is a key driver of economic growth and therefore Manicaland should ramp up both production and value addition of its mineral resources.
In view of the importance of lithium to the future energy-battery, lithium is now known as the “white oil”.
It is an important mineral, mainly used for the production of lithium batteries and ICT products.
Lithium is an essential component in the production of high-tech equipment and electric vehicle batteries.
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