China Mineral Resources Bikita Mining Company Held A Ceremony To Celebrate The Completion Of 4 Million Tons/year Spodumene And Translitase Processing Plants in Zimbabwe

On November 29, Bikita Mining Company of Zimbabwe, which is owned by China Mineral Resources Group Co., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as China Mineral Resources), held a grand ceremony at Bikita Mine in Masvingo Province to reach the production of 4 million tons/year spodumene and diathene alspar processing plant project. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Chiwenga and other senior government officials attended the ceremony along with Wang Pingwei, Chairman and President of China Mineral Resources, Wang Zhenhua, Vice President and General manager of Bikita Mining Company of Zimbabwe, and Wang Zhiwei, Assistant President and general manager of Tanco Mining Company of Canada.
Prior to the ceremony, President Mnangagwa was briefed by the Minister of Mining of Zimbabwe, and Wang Zhenhua, Vice President of China Mineral Resources and General Manager of Bikita Mining Company, briefed the guests on the construction and production since the start of construction in July last year. Subsequently, the president visited the spodumene flotation plant and the central control room, and personally pressed the button to start the ball mill. In the roar of the ball mill, the celebration ceremony began. The President, Vice President, Minister of Mines, Governor Masvingo and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bikita Lithium Mine delivered speeches congratulating them on the completion of the two processing plants.
Mnangagwa stressed the importance of lithium as a key feedstock as the global demand for clean energy and electric vehicles grows. Zimbabwe has rich lithium resources, and the Zimbabwean government is very clear about its willingness to further attract foreign investment and promote the modernization and sustainable development of the mining industry. In the future, with the further cooperation and exchanges between China and Zimbabwe in the field of mining, Zimbabwe is expected to become an important base for the development and processing of global lithium resources and make important contributions to the development of the global new energy industry.
Mnangagwa praised the tremendous changes and new vitality of Bikita Mine after its incorporation into China Mineral Resources, which has fulfilled its commitment to investment and construction and made remarkable achievements. It took only 15 months for the spodumene and dialspar selection projects to reach production from start to finish, setting a record in Africa and demonstrating the excellent management and efficient execution ability of China Mineral resources, which is an outstanding result of the "Spirit of China Mineral". The successful experience of China Mineral resources provides a valuable reference for the mining development of Zimbabwe and the whole African continent. The investment and technology of China Mineral resources transformed lithium resources into wealth, and brought modern equipment and technology to Zimbabwe, trained local employees, benefited local people, and achieved a win-win situation between us. This production arrival ceremony is not only an important milestone for the Bikita lithium mine, but also an important moment in the history of Zimbabwe's mining industry, showing the deep relationship between China and Zimbabwe in the field of resource development and economic cooperation. We hope that the two sides will continue to deepen cooperation, promote the development of Zimbabwe's lithium industry, and make greater contributions to the economic cooperation and friendship between Zimbabwe and China.
Mnangagwa also particularly appreciated the practical actions taken by China Mineral Resources to actively fulfill its social responsibility, such as building local schools, expanding mine hospitals, and renovating Birchenough Bridge.
In his speech, Wang Pingwei thanked Mr. President and the governments at all levels under his leadership and the community residents for their care and help in the construction of Bikita Mine. Wang Pingwei said that since the Bikita mine reached production on November 9 this year, it has maintained stable and safe operation, marking the company's formal entry into the stage of full self-sufficiency in lithium mines. In the next step, China Mineral Resources will further improve the construction of Bikita mine, increase the comprehensive research and development of other minerals (beryllium, cesium, tantalum, etc.), start the feasibility study of building a smelter, further extend the industrial chain, improve the added value of products, accelerate the construction of local solar power stations, and help Zimbabwe become an important pole of the world's new energy lithium power industry. Achieve green and sustainable development.