United Kingdom-based Zimbabwe businessman, Douglas Chikohora, 63, and his Cluff Africa Associates Mining Limited (CAA) are set to team up with a European firm in setting up a lithium refinery in Ghana.
Making the announcement Monday, the Minerals Commission of Ghana said the partnership between CAA Mining, a UK-incorporated company and Livista Energy would go a long way in enhancing local value addition in the West African country’s energy sector.
CAA, an established mining explorer, has been granted 18 months of exclusive licences to explore the highly rich lithium deposits in the Southern parts of Ghana. <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/uk-based-zimbabwe-businessman-in-ghana-lithium-refinery-venture/">ZimLive</a> cites Chikohora, the CAA co-founder and CEO as saying:
<blockquote>
Following the successful grant of the licenses, CAA Mining looks forward to commencing the exploration for lithium bearing pegmatite to supply Livista and prove the viability to establish some refining capability in Ghana.
</blockquote>
CAA has already identified eleven pegmatite outcrops and exposures upon which to focus the exploration and looks forward to publishing the results.
The setting up of a lithium refinery will deliver revenue sources for Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create employment.
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<li><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/police-intercept-trucks-with-lithium-ore/">Police Intercept Trucks Loaded With Lithium Ore</a></li>
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This comes at a time when Zimbabwe is experiencing a lithium rush following the discovery of the lucrative and strategic mineral in some parts of the country.
The discovery of lithium around the country positions Zimbabwe to play a dominant role in the production of lithium.
Zimbabwe, which produced 1 200 metric tonnes of the mineral in 2021 is the world’s fifth largest producer.  
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

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UK-based Zimbabwean In Process To Set Up A Lithium Refinery In Ghana

A Goromonzi councillor has praised mining company Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe for “its dedication” to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Prospect Lithium entered the Goromonzi district a year ago.
In an interview with The Herald, Ward 12 councillor Kondwakuenda Magaya said Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe had helped in the reduction of several issues including unemployment and the underdevelopment of the education and healthcare systems.
Cllr Ditima Mabasa of Ward 17 said Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe was transforming lives in the district. Mabasa is quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
In just a short period, Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe has done a lot in Goromonzi district and Zimbabwe at large.
2022 saw Vhuta Primary School in Goromonzi being transformed. New classroom blocks were constructed, old ones were renovated while semi-detached teachers’ houses were constructed.
Donations of 5 500 textbooks and furniture were also made to Vhuta Primary, Belmont Primary and Mwanza Primary and Secondary schools.
</blockquote>
Other interventions include prizes for the Vhuta Farmers Dry Show, Goromonzi highway road resurfacing, Goromonzi road gravelling and construction of bridges.
The lithium mining company also donated painting accessories to Goromonzi Police Station and constructed a police base in Ward 13.
PLZ has said it intends to focus on infrastructure development and agriculture, increased company-wide commitments to reduce its environmental footprint, and boost health and education in the communities the company is operating in.
It also intends to contribute millions of dollars toward:
<blockquote>
1). the building and rehabilitation of community schools, 
2). supporting the educational needs of underprivileged children, 
3). sponsoring sporting disciplines, 
4). supporting health and disability centres, 
5). agriculture and training of farmers to enable them to enhance household livelihoods.
</blockquote>
This year’s corporate social responsibility programmes are based on its investment philosophy, “no matter where you invest, you must contribute to the local economy and society.” 
Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe is a lithium exploration and development company focused on the Kamativi Tailings Project in Zimbabwe.
 The company’s goal is to become a significant lithium producer in the region and to take advantage of the growing demand for lithium, which is used in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and other electronic devices.
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Councillor Praises Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe For "Dedication" To Corporate Social Responsibility

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intercepted trucks with lithium ore in <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Mutoko">Mutoko</a> at a time all exports of lithium ore and inadequately processed lithium are now banned to promote value addition and beneficiation of the mineral. 
The intercepted loads are stored at Mutoko Central Police Station, according to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/police-intercept-truck-loads-of-lithium-ore/">The Herald</a>.
The publication did not disclose the quantity of lithium that was in the trucks.
The government recently claimed that potential revenue was being lost with illegal lithium mining and smuggling. 
Lithium is processed in several steps with most global trade in lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide since the actual metal is highly reactive and bursts into flame on contact with water or in moist environments and corrodes very quickly in the air.
Mutoko villagers are reportedly selling lithium ore for between US$15 to US$20 per wheelbarrow load, or US$100 per tonne, to middlemen who would resell it for US$350 to US$450 a tonne. 
Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Polite_Kambamura">Polite Kambamura</a> who toured some of the sites of illegal lithium mining in Mutoko said Government never issued a lithium licence.
Kambamura said registering a lithium claim was no guarantee of being allowed to mine and sell it since partial processing of a minimum level is now required. He said:
<blockquote>
For one to mine, we need to know your beneficiation plant in line with NDS1 where Government is encouraging local value addition and beneficiation. So, as Government we need to stamp our authority at the roots so that we deal with the main problem of illegal export or smuggling of lithium.
Currently there is a lot of illegal lithium mining especially in this region because of near surface lithium ore. Despite Government banning export of lithium ore, there is still plenty of lithium mining happening with buyers all over. 
We do not know where they are taking that lithium after the ban. If they are buying lithium illegally which means they are also exporting that lithium illegally which is smuggling.
</blockquote>
Some reports suggest that the Chinese and Indians are the main buyers of lithium.
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Police Intercept Trucks Loaded With Lithium Ore

Zimbabwe has given the green light to the development of a US$2.83bn battery-metals park, proposed by a group of Chinese investors.
Planned to be developed by Hong Kong Eagle International Investment and Pacific Goal Investment, the proposed plant will be equipped to process metals including platinum, lithium, and nickel.
The move is aimed at reinvigorating the country’s declining economy.
Slated for completion by the end of 2025, the integrated industrial park will comprise a $1bn nickel-sulphate plant, a $500m nickel-chromium alloy smelter, and a $450m lithium-salt plant, Eagle International, reported <a href="https://www.mining-technology.com/news/chinese-metals-park-zimbabwe/">Mining Technology</a>.
Zimbabwe Deputy Mines Minister Polite Kambamura said an agreement is anticipated to be signed between Eagle International and Pacific Goal for the proposed plan, later this week. In a document seen by Mining Technology, Eagle International said: 
<blockquote>
The goal of the New Energy Special Economic Zone Industrial Park is to develop an industrial value chain represented by new energy metals such as lithium and nickel, to increase the added value of the mineral products and form a new energy production base that embraced the world while based in Africa.
</blockquote>
The 30-50km2 battery-metals park is expected to be built in Mapinga and would include two 300MW power plants to provide electricity to the various refineries.
Nickel-chromium alloys are used in the production of stainless steel while lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide and nickel sulphate are raw materials used for the production of lithium batteries required for solar-energy storage.
Zimbabwe has seen an increase in investors due to surging lithium prices and the growing shift to electric vehicles.
In the country, Chengxin Lithium Group and Sinomine Resource Group agreed to explore lithium. Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt looks to develop the $300m Arcadia lithium mine in the country’s northeast part.
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Zimbabwe Approves Development Of A US$2.83 bn Battery-metals Park By Chinese Investors

Chinese firms have invested US$570 million into Zimbabwe’s lithium mines in the past three months, as they intensify their push to control the lithium value chain.
The companies are making serious inroads into Zimbabwe’s mining sector, to feed into their battery production industry, which has seen huge demand since electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing increased in the past few years.
Last week, Shenzhen Stock Exchange-listed Suzhou TA&amp;A Ultra Clean Technology Co. Ltd bought shares worth about US$15.7 million from Premier African Minerals, a Zimbabwe-focused miner that is developing the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum project near Bulawayo.
It is one of the biggest Chinese firms, with a market capitalisation of about US$6.7 billion.
It has a 75 per cent holding in lithium hydroxide producer Yibin Tianyi Lithium Industry Co, Ltd, together with China’s largest EV battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology.
Premier CEO George Roach said the subscription would fully fund the completion of a definitive feasibility study (DFS) at the Zulu Lithium and Tantalum project. 
In December, Zhejiang Huayou bought Arcadia lithium mine, from Prospect Resources for US$378 million.
Zimbabwe will pocket only US$30 million in taxes.
<blockquote>
1). In January 20222, Sinomine Resource Group Co. Ltd announced that it would be buying 100% shareholding in African Metals Management Services and Southern African Metals and Minerals, the firms that control 74% shareholding in Bikita Minerals.
2). The deal is worth US$180 million.
3). Bikita Minerals is situated in Bikita Hills, near Masvingo. The firm has been operating for around 100 years.
</blockquote>
However, the Zimbabwe Coalition for Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) raised red flags, saying the government was parcelling out strategic assets to foreign firms without giving legislators room to assess such transactions. 
More: <a href="https://thestandard.newsday.co.zw/2022/03/13/chinese-inject-us570m-into-zim-lithium-mines/">The Standard</a>

Chinese Firms Inject US$570 Million Into Zimbabwe’s Lithium Mines

China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt said it would pay a total of $422 million to acquire the Arcadia hard-rock lithium mine in Zimbabwe.
The move marks Huayou’s second raid into lithium, a key ingredient in rechargeable batteries, in the space of a week. It is the latest acquisition of overseas battery mineral resources by Chinese companies looking to shore up supply to meet demand from the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) sector.
Huayou, the world’s biggest producer of cobalt, another battery metal, in 2020, said in a filing it would pay $388.8 million for Australia-listed Prospect Resources Ltd’s 87% stake in Arcadia owner Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe.
It will pay another $44.2 million for the 6% stake held by Zimbabwean professor Kingston Kajese and the 7% held by Tamari Trust, which previous Prospect filings show is linked to Paul Chimbodza, executive director of Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe.
The Arcadia project aims to process 2.4 million tonnes of ore per year but has not yet reached commercial production. Prospect Resources said in July the first batch of petalite from pilot production had been delivered to offtake partner Sinomine and that it was also working on spodumene samples.
Zimbabwe is desperate to attract investors into its mining sector, which it says will drive the recovery of its stricken economy. It has opened its doors to Chinese firms, which now operate several chrome, coal and gold mines.
Last Friday, Sichuan New Energy Power Co Ltd said it agreed to a lithium production and battery recycling tie-up with Huayou in China. 
Meanwhile, the opposition MDC Alliance has insinuated that the transaction was corruptly done. MDC Alliance Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende said on Friday:
<blockquote>
Today’s announcement of the sale of Lithium deposits to China is sad and tragic. Lithium is the new Oil. In a few years from now most cars will be running on batteries. This resources corruptly sold to the Chinese is worth Billions. A new Govrnment in 2023 will correct this.
</blockquote>
Responding to Hwende’s remarks, some observers said the opposition party was criticising from an uninformed point of view or was deliberately ignoring the fact that the mine was being owned by the Australian company for years, “and they never said a thing.”
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