Zimbabwe Lithium Miners Request Extension on Concentrate Export Ban

Lithium miners in Zimbabwe asked the government for more time to build processing facilities before a ban on concentrate exports takes effect in January 2027, Semafor reported, citing Reuters. The leader of a lithium producers’ trade body said regulators had been asked for an extension because attempts to complete plant construction ahead of the deadline were at various stages, and only one had been completed.

Africa’s top lithium producer has pressed miners operating in the country to process more of the battery metal locally.

Zimbabwe recently introduced lithium concentrate quotas and increased royalties on lithium concentrate exports to boost revenues from its natural resources. Zimbabwe’s local processing drive is part of a broader trend across the continent to capture more value from raw materials.