The $300 million lithium processing plant was inaugurated on Wednesday and has a processing capacity of 4.5 million metric tons of hard rock lithium into concentrate for annual export.

The plant was launched by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of Chinese company Zhejiang Huayou.

"Lithium is the mineral of the present and the future, which is why its enrichment and valorization by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe will position our country as an emerging and competitive player in the global lithium value chain, throughout the world," he explained. Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has one of the world's largest reserves of lithium, demand for which is increasing worldwide due to its use in electric vehicle batteries. In recent years, the country has attracted investors from Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, but China remains the dominant player.

Source: africanews.