Base Minerals Export Control (UnProcessed Lithium Ores) Order 2022. Statutory Instrument (SI) 213 of 2022, Base Minerals Export Control 2022, published in the Zimbabwe Gazette The (Unbeneficiated Lithium Bearing Ores) Order] states that "lithium bearing ore or any unprocessed lithium ore shall not be exported from Zimbabwe to any other country except with the written permission of the Minister of Mines."
picture
Zimbabwe's ban on the export of unprocessed lithium ore is said to be part of a crackdown on mining owners who illegally extract the material and ship it across the country's borders. Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the above order commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding Class 9 or twice the value of the essential minerals committed, whichever is the greater; Or be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than two years; Or both a fine and imprisonment.
But Zimbabwe says the ban will not affect the operations of China's three largest mining companies, China Minerals Resources Group, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Chengxin Lithium.
Minerals accounted for 60 percent of Zimbabwe's export revenue as of Dec. 26, data showed, and mining accounted for 16 percent of its GDP. Zimbabwe hopes to use lithium exports to pay off its $14 billion foreign debt.
Faced with a growing black market and mineral revenues flowing to foreign companies, the Zimbabwean authorities have decided to start mineral export controls to prevent even greater export losses.
Zimbabwe is known to have Africa's largest lithium deposits, which are of the hard rock type. The Bikita mine is the largest lithium mine in the country. Located 308 km south of the capital Harare, it is the only active mine in Africa.
According to the latest IRES resource estimate report, the Bikita lithium deposit contains 29.41,400 tons of ore with an average lithium oxide grade of 1.17% and lithium oxide metal content of 34400 tons, equivalent to 849,600 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent. In addition, several unverified LcT-type (Li-cesium-tantalum type) pegmatite bodies are still developed in the Bikita area, which has the potential to further expand the reserves of Li-cesium-tantalum mineral resources.
Other lithium deposits in the country include Goromonzi, Mberengwa, Shurugwi, Zvishavane and Mutoko.
The export control of lithium resources in Zimbabwe may further lead to a supply shortage of lithium resources and raise the international lithium ore price again.
Overall, the impact of the control document on the country's lithium resource exports remains to be seen. It is expected to further crack down on illegal international lithium ore sales and increase Zimbabwe's official mineral export earnings.
