Africa's top lithium producer suspended exports of unprocessed minerals on February 26, following government allegations of sector malpractices and leakages.
In a letter addressed to the Chamber of Mines, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura outlined the prerequisites for resuming shipments. The new requirements emphasize local beneficiation, financial transparency, and worker welfare.
The 2026 Mandates for Resuming Exports
To restart exports, mining companies must agree to the following strict conditions laid out by the mines ministry:
- Local Processing Facilities: The government requires written commitments to build beneficiation facilities for the local separation of all economic minerals prior to export.
- Lithium Sulphate Plants: Companies must provide written commitments with dedicated timelines to establish lithium sulphate plants before January 1, 2027.
- Export Quotas and Taxes: Approved lithium concentrate export quotas will be explicitly communicated to each individual producer. Additionally, a 10% export tax will continue to be levied on all lithium concentrate shipments.
- The 2027 Ban: The 10% tax will remain in place until January 2027, at which point a complete ban on unprocessed concentrate shipments will take effect.
- Financial Transparency: Producers must provide a written commitment to publish company annual financial statements starting December 31, 2025. There is also a mandatory declaration for tax compliance of all other minerals in export consignments.
- Labor and Safety Standards: Firms must commit to building decent accommodation for local employees and adjusting salaries to meet the minimum National Employment Council (NEC) standards for the mining industry. Mines must also establish Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) departments.
- Infrastructure Requirements: Mining companies must set up assay laboratories at each producing mine within three months and commit to establishing two internationally accredited laboratories for the entire industry.
Driving Local Beneficiation and Industry Impact
By requiring lithium to be processed domestically, the government is ensuring that more revenue, skills development, and industrial capacity remain on the continent. Zimbabwe’s policy reflects a broader continental trend of nationalization and value addition in Africa’s mining sector.
These regulations will have a profound impact on the foreign companies that dominate Zimbabwe's lithium mining sector, specifically Chinese firms like Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine, Chengxin Lithium, Yahua, and the Tsingshan Holding Group. In 2025, Zimbabwe exported 1.128 million metric tons of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate to China, accounting for about 15% of its lithium concentrate imports for the year.
As the 2027 ban on raw concentrates approaches, some producers are already pivoting to comply. Huayou recently built a $400 million plant to process concentrates into lithium sulphate, an intermediate product needed for battery-grade materials. Similarly, Sinomine and Yahua have announced plans to build their own lithium sulphate plants at their respective Zimbabwean mines.