Chinese firm rushes to extract over 60,000 metric tonnes of lithium as Zimbabwe announces plans to ban lithium exports by 2027‼️

Also Read Below: *Water woes: How mining is depleting health in Zimbabwe’s rural communities*

China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt plans to

extract more than 60,000 metric tonnes

of lithium sulphate during the first quarter

of 2026 from its new $400 million plant in

Zimbabwe, the company says.

This comes as Zimbabwe plans to ban

lithium export and boost local processing

by 2027.

Lithium sulphate is an intermediate

product that can be refined into a battery-

grade material such as lithium hydroxide

or lithium carbonate used in battery

manufacturing.

"We will start the first production from

the beginning of next year" Prospect

Lithium Zimbabwe general manager

Henry Zhu told reporters on Thursday.

"The quantity of thelithium sulphate

should be more than 60,000 metric

tonnes, but it will depend on the

configuration of the plant, because it is

brand new' Zhu added.

Local operations

The newly completed plant

Huayou's wholly owned Prospect Lithium

Zimbabwe's Arcadia mine has a capacity

to exceed 50,000 metric tons of lithium

sulphate annually, an executive said

during a tour of the operation.

Zimbabwe, Africa's top lithium producer,

has been nudging miners to process the

mineral in the country in order to help lift

its economy.

Huayou, which acquired Arcadia lithium

mine for $422 million in 2022,

commissioned a $300 million lithium

concentrator in 2023.

The company, along with other Chinese

metals firms, including Sinomine,

Chengxin Lithium Group, Yahua Group,

and Tsingshan Holding, dominates

Zimbabwe's lithium mining, producing

concentrates and shipping them to their

home country.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/HGmy8rtWUYfAmDCWHhIddf?mode=ems_copy_t

Huayou exported 400,000 tonnes of

lithium concentrate from Zimbabwe in

2024.

The southern African country will ban the

export of lithium concentrates from 2027

as it pushes for more local processing.

Sinomine has also announced plans to

build a $500 million lithium sulphate plant

at its Bikita mine in Zimbabwe.

*Water woes: How mining is depleting health in Zimbabwe’s rural communities*

In the sun-drenched fields of Goromonzi and Buhera districts, where crops once flourished under the watchful eyes of resilient farmers, a quiet crisis unfolds.

As lithium mining companies siphon off water from underground aquifers, local communities face a dual threat: dwindling water resources and escalating health issues.

The once vibrant villages are now grappling with the grim reality of disease burdens linked to climate-induced changes, a situation exacerbated by the depletion of indigenous knowledge systems.

As health data reveals alarming trends, the urgency for action has never been clearer.

Experts note that the excessive water usage by lithium mines can deplete and contaminate local water sources that communities rely on.

This water stress can create conditions that are favourable for the proliferation of water-borne diseases and vectors like mosquitoes that transmit diseases.

Studies have found elevated rates of certain infectious diseases like diarrhoea, malaria and Chagas in communities surrounding lithium mining operations. The disruption to water access and quality appears to be a contributing factor.

Nyasha Masuka, a specialist community health physician, said when faced with such a crisis, rural communities were usually incapacitated in addressing such health impacts.

"Rural communities often lack the resources and capacity to effectively address the health impacts of resource extraction projects like lithium mining,” she said.

Epidemiological studies indicate that for certain diseases, the rate of infection is now compounded by climate change and unsustainable water extraction practices.

Experts are alarmed by the correlation between declining water tables and a spike in disease transmission.

“There’s a clear link,” said Chipo Mutambo, a public health researcher. “As in the current heat-wave, water scarcity increases and so are high risks of diseases”.

Water is life and in rural Zimbabwe, its scarcity has far-reaching implications. As mining companies extract water at unsustainable rates, local communities are left to contend with the consequences.

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The depletion of water tables not only affects agricultural productivity but also compromises hygiene and sanitation. Families struggle to access clean water for drinking, cooking and washing, leading to increased susceptibility to waterborne diseases.

“Children are particularly vulnerable,” said Anita Shoko, a community health worker in Goromonzi.

“Without access to clean water, they are more prone to illnesses like diarrhoea and cholera.”

The rising cost of water purification methods further exacerbates the situation, leaving many families unable to afford even basic health measures.

As health challenges mount, the erosion of indigenous knowledge systems compounds the crisis. Historically, local communities relied on traditional methods to manage water resources and identify health risks.

However, the rapid changes brought on by climate change and industrial practices like mining have led to the loss of these invaluable systems.

“We used to know how to read the signs of our environment,” reflects Tendai Chitibu, a village elder in Buhera.

“Now, it feels like we are losing touch with our roots,” he said.

This disconnection has made it increasingly difficult for communities to adapt to changing disease patterns.

Experts argue that restoring and integrating indigenous knowledge with modern health practices can enhance resilience.

“Communities must be empowered to reconnect with their heritage,” said Itai Rusike, Community Working Group on Health executive director.

“This knowledge can be a powerful tool in combating the health impacts of climate change”.

Despite the disturbing health trends, communities in Goromonzi and Buhera have limited capacity to detect and respond to changes in disease transmission.

Factors such as drug resistance, population movement, and shifting control measures complicate the situation.

“We cannot attribute changes in disease patterns solely to climate change,” said Masuka, a health physician.

“It’s a complex web of factors that makes it difficult to pinpoint causes.”

The lack of health data in rural areas is a significant barrier to conducting effective epidemiological studies.

“Without reliable data, we cannot fully understand the relationship between climate change and disease,” Mutambo said.

“We need considerable improvements in health surveillance systems to track these changes over time,” she said.

Experts argue that immediate action is necessary to address the health implications of climate change and mining practices.

“We need detailed epidemiological studies that can directly attribute changes in disease patterns to observed climate phenomena,” Mutambo said.

Investing in health infrastructure and surveillance systems is crucial for monitoring disease trends and improving community health outcomes.

Moreover, integrating local knowledge into health strategies could enhance community resilience. “We must listen to the voices of the community,” says Shoko. “They have insights that can guide our health interventions.”

The health situations unfolding in Goromonzi and Buhera due to mining operations are a stark reminder of the intricate relationship among water security, climate change and public health, which requires persistent monitoring and management.

As mining companies continue with their operations, local communities find themselves at the mercy of dwindling resources and silent but escalating health challenges.

To combat this crisis, a multifaceted approach is necessary — one that combines modern science with the wisdom of indigenous knowledge.

By strengthening health surveillance systems, empowering communities, and advocating for sustainable water management, Zimbabwe can pave the way toward a healthier and more resilient future.

Experts say the time for action is now, as the stakes are high for both communities and the resources they cherish. _*NewsDay*_