Sinomine Requests Extension to Implement Refinery at Bikita in Zimbabwe

Following a ban on exports of raw minerals and concentrates as of January 2027, lithium miners in Zimbabwe are encouraged to add more value and move up the lithium value chain locally. In that respect, Prospect Lithium, owned by Zhejiang Huayou, has taken the lead by building a #lithium refinery at its mining site in Arcadia and has even successfully shipped its first consignment of lithium sulfate in April 2026.

However, other miners, such as Bikita Minerals, are in negotiations with the Government and have requested more time to implement the refinery. The Bikita mine has huge amounts of tailings with complex pegmatite containing lithium, cesium, tantalum (LCT) as well as rubidium and niobium. Other than lithium, it is worth highlighting that Bikita is only one of a handful of mines around the world that produce #cesium and the tantalum is obtained outside the conflict zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thus, the strategic value of Bikita mine goes well beyond lithium, as one gram of cesium can cost nearly USD 100.

As the owner of Bikita Minerals, Sinomine has announced plans to invest up to USD 500 million to implement a refinery in Bikita. However, the Chinese company seems to be dragging its feet and has repeatedly asked for a time extension. VP Constantino Chiwenga visited the Bikita mine in March 2026 and stressed the Government’s position and objective to realize more local value addition (#LVA).

In June 2026, the Sinomine (SZSE: 2738) Chairman WANG Pingwei even personally traveled to Zimbabwe to meet with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to continue the negotiations. As a next step, Zimbabwe is planning to send a high-level delegation to China to pursue the discussions.