Arcadia Lithium Mine Scores Big in Value Addition

Mines and mining development Minister Winston Chitando has applauded Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), a subsidiary of Chinese giant Huayou Cobalt massive investment in propelling government’s call to value add the mining chain of lithium.

PLZ has poured USD 400 million into a processing plant set to value-add raw lithium to sulphate form, a key ingredient in lithium battery making.

The massive project is the first of its in Africa only the third in world.

Currently, the country is exporting raw lithium.

Government has since ordered all lithium mining companies to value-add their operations.
A deadline set for January 2027.

PLZ early in the next three months will be producing lithium sulphate.

Speaking during a tour of the mine, Minister Chitando said the plant is being done in three phases.

He added that in January 2026, lithium sulphate production commences while the second phase is set for April 2026.

“This mine is a direct product of Zimbabwe’s ‘Open for Business’ mantra and also a major step in the achievement of the 2030 development vision,” “What we see here are the fruits of that policy where we, from extraction, processing all the way to a material going straight into the battery making phase.”

The Arcadia project is a central pillar in Zimbabwe’s concerted push to move beyond raw material extraction and capture greater value from its mineral resources. This strategy was cemented by the government’s announcement of a ban on all lithium concentrate exports, effective January 2027 .

Minister Chitando explicitly connected the plant’s development to this policy, noting that the new capacity makes the export ban feasible.

“Because of the processing capacity which is now in the country, the export of all lithium concentrates will be banned from January 2027,” he said.

The Arcadia plant is strategically ahead of this curve. When fully operational, it is designed to transform spodumene concentrate into 50,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium sulphate annually—a critical precursor chemical for the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems worldwide .

The investment at Arcadia is key to Zimbabwe’s mining sector, which holds the largest lithium reserves in Africa, estimated at 480 000 metric tonnes.

The project has rapidly progressed from construction to production, with the first batch of lithium sulphate expected by early 2026 .
The economic implications are already being felt locally. The plant’s construction has created numerous employment opportunities for residents of Goromonzi District, with further hiring expected upon its operational launch .

Beyond capital investment, the mine has undertaken significant infrastructure projects, including the construction and tarring of kilometres of road, which has improved connectivity and is set to enhance the district’s attractiveness to more investors .
Henry Zhu, Managing Director of Arcadia Technology Zimbabwe (ATZ), framed the investment as a game-changer.

“Not only has this plant created jobs and stimulated local economic activity, but it also showcases Zimbabwe’s potential as a major player in the global lithium market,” he said.

The project’s significance extends beyond national borders. Parent company Huayou Cobalt’s recent accession to China’s prestigious Green and Low-carbon Advanced Technology Innovation Platform directly links Zimbabwe’s lithium output to the highest international environmental and technological standards .

This ensures that the lithium sulphate produced at Arcadia is destined for the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturers, embedding Zimbabwe within a global vision for cleaner energy and responsible mineral extraction.

The Arcadia mine solidifies its status as a benchmark for foreign direct investment in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.