Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
Parliament has commended the Government’s position on banning raw lithium exports that has seen the country export at least 816 000 tonnes of lithium concentrates and realising over US$1,24 billion in revenue this year as compared to the same period last year.
Raising a point of national interest in the National Assembly recently, Zaka South legislator Cde Clemence Chiduwa, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce, said Government policy would safeguard the country’s interests from price fluctuations on the international market.
“My point of national interest is based on the performance that we are realising with regard to the exportation of beneficiated lithium,” he said.
“I want to commend the clear progress in our lithium sector as reflected in the new export figures that have been published by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe
“To date, Zimbabwe has sold around 816 000 tonnes of lithium concentrates valued at approximately US$1,247 billion, compared with 663 tonnes worth US$ 243 million over the same period last year. This represents a 23 percent increase in volume and a 413 percent increase in value.”
He added that the strong performance of the sector was also reflective of the higher prices on the world market.
“This is a strong indication that our export performance is aligning with improved global market pricing,” he said.
“These results are a vote of confidence in our mining operations, export execution and the national effort to position Zimbabwe as a reliable lithium supplier to the world.
“This is also bringing in valuable foreign currency and supporting economic stability. The substantial increase in the export value strengthens the case for investing in beneficiation, infrastructure, training and regulatory safeguards that protect national interest and ensure that future growth benefits Zimbabwe as a producer of both raw materials and higher valued products.”
Cde Chiduwa also challenged Parliament to support the implementation of beneficiation so that when the lithium prices fluctuate, the country will be resilient because it would have moved up the value chain.
He added that there was need, therefore, to transition from beneficiation to manufacturing so that the country could produce and export lithium products.
