•
Kuvimba
Mining
to
begin
construction
in
Q3 2025,
production
set
fsor
2027
•
Project
will
add
600,000
tons
of
concentrate
to
growing
national
supply
•
Chinese-backed
investments
drive
expansion
despite
weak
global
prices
Zimbabwe’s
lithium
sector
delivered
2.4
million
tons
of
concentrate
in
2024,
more
than
tripling
the
previous
year’s
output
of
745,455
tons.
Authorities
project
3.26
million
tons
in
2025,
driven
by
the
launch
of
new
mines
and
strong
investment
from
Chinese
companies.
Sandawana
follows
this
trend.
Kuvimba
has
partnered
with
two
Chinese
firms
for
the
project,
which
is
expected
to
cost $270
million.
Barnard
did
not
name
the
partners
in
the
latest
announcement,
but
previously
mentioned
Zhejiang
Huayou
Cobalt
and
Tsingshan
Holding
Group
as
collaborators
in
a
2024
interview
with
Bloomberg.
This
wave
of
new
lithium
projects
comes
amid
rising
global
demand
for
the
metal,
which
is
essential
for
energy
transition
technologies.
The
International
Energy
Agency
estimates
that
around
55
new
lithium
mines
will
be
needed
by
2035
to
meet
demand.
Zimbabwe
could
play
a
role
in
closing
that
supply
gap,
provided
new
projects
stay
on
track
and
output
remains
strong.
For
Sandawana,
securing
funding
is
the
next
key
step.
Kuvimba
is
continuing
talks
with
its
Chinese
partners
to
finalize
financing.
Despite
a
prolonged
slump
in
global
lithium
prices,
down
about
80%
since
2023
due
to
oversupply,
Barnard
remains
confident
that
prices
will
recover
by
the
time
Sandawana
begins
operations.