The extraction of lithium in Zimbabwe has received a boost after Canada-based exploration and development company Li3 Lithium Corporation announced it is presently looking for additional prospective ground in the country on Tuesday.
The most important use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles, which accounts for 74% of global use.
Lithium is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks. It has pharmaceutical applications in treatments for depression and anxiety as well.
The present search is in Mutare in one of Zimbabwe’s lithium-rich regions.
Referred to as “white gold”, lithium deposits in Zimbabwe has turned the country into the 5th largest producer globally with output increasing steadily in recent years.
In 2021 alone, Zimbabwe produced 1 200 metric tonnes of the battery metal.
"The company is evaluating the acquisition of additional prospective ground, either through staking or agreements with potential vendors,” Li3 Lithium Corporation said.
It believes the area can match that of key mining areas of competitor sources such as Western Australia.
Li3 is already running the Mutare Lithium Project consisting of 1 500 hectares of licenses within the Mutare Greenstone Belt of Zimbabwe, located close to the eastern border with Mozambique.
Last December Zimbabwe imposed a ban on raw lithium ore exports, requiring companies to set up plants in the country and process ore into concentrates before export to boost local jobs and revenue.
China has also shown a keen interest in Zimbabwe because it has the largest deposits of lithium in the world.
