Zimbabwe is looking beyond lithium concentrate production and setting its sights on battery manufacturing as the government works to capture a greater share of the fast-growing electric vehicle and energy storage market. Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the country’s long-term goal is not only to mine and process lithium but eventually to manufacture lithium batteries locally.

The plan marks the next stage of Zimbabwe’s effort to earn more from one of its most valuable mineral resources. Over the past few years, the government has tightened its focus on value addition by banning exports of raw lithium ore and requiring mining companies to process the mineral inside the country before it is shipped abroad.

Zimbabwe advances battery-metal beneficiation policy

Officials say the policy is designed to keep more economic benefits at home through manufacturing, job creation and skills development. “We have made a lot of progress, and we are happy that the companies have complied. We asked them to build processing plants, and they have done that,” Kambamura said, according to state media.

He said the beneficiation policy continues to evolve as authorities refine it to deliver stronger long-term returns from Zimbabwe’s extensive lithium reserves. “It’s an ongoing process which may see tweaks and adjustments here and there so that in the end we come up with what works best,” he said.

Zimbabwe is home to some of Africa’s largest hard-rock lithium deposits and has attracted billions of dollars in investment from international mining companies seeking reliable supplies of the battery metal. That investment has already led to the construction of lithium concentrators and processing facilities, giving the country its first significant domestic processing capacity and reducing its reliance on exports of unprocessed ore.

Zimbabwe plans downstream lithium value addition

Government officials see those processing plants as the foundation for a broader industrial strategy. While producing lithium concentrate is an important first step, manufacturing batteries would move Zimbabwe further up the value chain. Such an expansion would require major investment in industrial infrastructure, battery-grade processing technology, skilled workers and supporting supply networks, making it a longer-term ambition rather than an immediate target.

Kambamura said the timeline for producing Zimbabwe’s first locally made lithium battery will depend largely on how quickly investment flows into downstream industries. The government is seeking investors that can establish battery-grade material processing facilities before eventually developing battery manufacturing plants capable of serving both domestic customers and export markets.

Lithium processing boosts industrial growth potential

The opportunity comes as global demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to rise, fuelled by the rapid adoption of electric vehicles, expanding renewable energy storage projects and wider electrification efforts. As demand grows, countries with large lithium reserves are increasingly looking for ways to move beyond mining and secure a greater share of the manufacturing value associated with the battery industry.

For Zimbabwe, building a domestic battery industry could lift export earnings, create higher-value industrial jobs and deepen the country’s manufacturing base. If those plans materialise, the country would join a small but growing group of mineral-rich nations seeking to turn their critical mineral resources into a broader industrial advantage rather than relying primarily on exports of raw or semi-processed materials.