Home Southern Africa Zimbabwe’s Push for Lithium Value Addition by 2027: A Regional Outlier

Southern Africa

Zimbabwe’s Push for Lithium Value Addition by 2027: A Regional Outlier

June 15, 2025

(4 Minutes Read)

Zimbabwe, which hosts some of the largest and highest-grade lithium reserves in Africa, has unveiled a bold industrial strategy: a complete ban on the export of unprocessed lithium concentrates by the year 2027. This ambitious policy is designed to pivot the country away from being merely a raw materials supplier and toward becoming a key player in the global lithium value chain, particularly in the lithium battery and electric vehicle (EV) sectors.

Since 2022, the Zimbabwean government has incrementally tightened restrictions on the export of raw lithium, mandating companies to begin beneficiation—processing or refining the mineral within national borders. The upcoming 2027 ban is the apex of this policy, effectively forcing all mining operations to invest in domestic processing infrastructure. After the ban, only value-added lithium products such as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide will be allowed for export.

This policy shift aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader goal to capture greater economic value from its mineral wealth. By insisting that lithium undergoes domestic refinement before export, the government aims to:

Stimulate job creation,
Attract foreign direct investment (FDI),
Develop technical and industrial expertise locally,
Enhance Zimbabwe’s position in the global green energy supply chain.

Authorities also plan to support this transformation with fiscal incentives, regulatory reforms, and infrastructure support, although the specifics of these measures are still unfolding. Zimbabwe’s regulatory shift positions it as a potential leader in Africa’s lithium value chain. If successfully implemented, the country could become a hub for battery-grade lithium production and attract significant EV-related investments.

Challenges:

Infrastructure Gap: Processing lithium requires reliable electricity, water, and transport networks—areas where Zimbabwe still lags.
Financing and Investment Risk: The aggressive timeline could deter smaller miners or investors who see the policy as risky or abrupt.
Skills and Technology Deficit: Technical expertise and skilled labor for refining are limited domestically, necessitating capacity-building programs.

Risk:
Zimbabwe must also be careful not to scare away potential investors who prefer policy stability and gradual transitions. The government needs to manage the shift through clear communication, incentives, and public-private cooperation.

Zimbabwe’s policy stands in stark contrast to approaches adopted by many other African lithium-rich countries. While others are still heavily reliant on exporting raw minerals, Zimbabwe is asserting itself as a regional pioneer in resource-based industrialisation.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):

Minerals: Rich in cobalt (critical for EV batteries), not lithium.
Current strategy: Focused on raw mineral exports with minimal local processing.
Policy environment: Discussions around domestic refining have emerged, but concrete export restrictions or processing mandates are still lacking.

Namibia:

Lithium potential: Recently discovered reserves.
Policy approach: Open to foreign investment with no export bans yet. Processing plans are at early discussion stages.
Trend: Favors gradual development, emphasising investor-friendly policies over rigid mandates.

Nigeria:

Lithium deposits: Increasing interest, especially in central regions like Nasarawa.
Current approach: Raw lithium exports continue with little value addition. Some local advocacy for beneficiation exists, but no national ban or strict policy direction yet.
Challenges: Regulatory inconsistency and infrastructure limitations hamper industrialisation efforts.

Mali and Ghana:

Emerging lithium markets.
Both countries have attracted exploration investments but remain focused on raw material exports.
Ghana has discussed beneficiation in mining policy reviews, but no strict export controls are in place.

Zimbabwe’s 2027 lithium concentrate export ban is a bold and rare move in Africa’s extractive industries. While many African countries still prioritise raw mineral exports, Zimbabwe is actively seeking to shift the paradigm, transforming from a raw exporter to a value-adding producer. If successful, this could reshape how African nations harness their mineral wealth. However, the success of this policy will depend heavily on Zimbabwe’s ability to overcome infrastructural, financial, and human capital hurdles over the next two years.