New Lithium Policy Signals Shift in Zimbabwe’s Mining Strategy

On June 10, 2025, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Mines and Mining Development announced a sweeping policy measure: beginning January 2027, the country will implement a full ban on the export of lithium concentrates. This marks a major escalation from the 2022 ban on raw lithium ore exports and reflects Zimbabwe’s push to climb the value chain in the critical minerals sector. The new policy mandates that all lithium mined within the country must undergo at least midstream processing—such as lithium sulfate or carbonate conversion—before it can be exported. Authorities emphasize that the measure is aimed at stimulating local industry development, creating jobs, and capturing more of the mineral’s economic value within national borders.