In southeastern Africa, the sound of machines roaring in the Biquita mining area of Zimbabwe. Zhongkuang Resources is expanding here, while constructing a 100000 ton annual lithium sulfate plant to process lithium concentrate into intermediate lithium salt products; Expand tantalum niobium recycling facilities on one side. On September 25th, the Tantalum Niobium Recycling Plant 2 officially started construction. The lithium sulfate project has obtained an environmental impact assessment certificate and entered full construction in August. It is expected to be put into operation in mid-2027 with a total investment of about 288 million US dollars. The front-end of the mine is undergoing synchronous transformation, and the pre disposal project will be launched in July, with the goal of increasing the annual production capacity of spodumene concentrate from 300000 tons to 400000 tons.

Local processing can reduce the return of materials and allow for the use of lower grade raw materials. Zimbabwe demands to stop exporting lithium concentrate from January 2027 and shift towards high value-added deep processing such as lithium sulfate. Zhongkuang Resources will obtain export quotas of 200000 tons and 300000 tons of lithium concentrate in 2026, and is integrating export permits, inventory, and new plant construction progress into its raw material supply plan.Editor/Min Jing