India’s Lohum plans to invest $100 million in Zimbabwe after securing rights to 10 mining blocks containing an estimated 30 million to 40 million tonnes of lithium-bearing ore, giving the critical-minerals company a new foothold in one of Africa’s biggest lithium-producing markets.

The investment comes as Zimbabwe seeks greater value from its mineral wealth and tighter controls on the export of unprocessed lithium. Lohum plans to process the ore into lithium sulfate in Zimbabwe before shipping the intermediate product to India for conversion into lithium carbonate.

India targets battery supply

The project could eventually produce material equivalent to about 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate a year, according to Lohum. That figure represents a potential production target and should not be confused with the 30 million to 40 million tonnes of lithium-bearing ore estimated to be contained in the mining blocks.

Lohum founder and CEO Rajat Verma disclosed the investment and resource estimates in a recent interview. The 10 spodumene-bearing blocks cover about 1,100 hectares, giving the company a substantial resource base as it seeks to expand its position in critical-mineral supply chains.

The investment would deepen India’s access to lithium at a time when Chinese companies have built a dominant position in Zimbabwe’s mining and processing industry. Companies including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine Resource Group, Chengxin Lithium and Sichuan Yahua have invested about $2 billion in the country’s lithium sector since 2021.

Zimbabwe seeks local processing

Lohum’s planned processing model reflects Zimbabwe’s push to retain more mineral value domestically. Instead of exporting raw ore, the company intends to produce lithium sulfate locally, then ship it to India for further refining into lithium carbonate, a key material used by battery manufacturers.

The strategy also fits India’s effort to diversify sources of critical minerals needed for batteries and clean-energy technologies. Lohum says it is working to build more resilient supply chains through mining, processing and refining, reducing exposure to concentrated sources of strategic raw materials.

The Zimbabwe project adds another overseas resource play for an Indian company seeking greater security of supply. For Lohum, access to spodumene resources in Africa could provide feedstock for its processing operations while strengthening its role in India’s expanding battery-materials ecosystem.

A new lithium corridor

Lohum, a producer and processor of critical minerals and advanced materials, with operations focused on refining and supply-chain development. The company has positioned its strategy alongside India’s National Critical Mineral Mission, which aims to strengthen domestic access to strategic resources.

Zimbabwe has emerged as a major lithium supplier in Africa, attracting billions of dollars in investment as battery demand grows. Chinese companies have led much of that investment, making Lohum’s planned entry a notable expansion of India’s presence in the country’s lithium industry.

The $100 million commitment, 10 mining blocks and estimated 30 million to 40 million tonnes of ore give Lohum a significant starting point. The project’s eventual scale will depend on exploration, development, processing capacity and the company’s ability to convert the resource into commercially viable lithium products.