BIKITA, Zimbabwe, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa attended the completion and commissioning ceremony of the upgrading project of Zimbabwe's largest lithium mine, Bikita Mine, on Nov. 29th.
Bikita mine is located in Zimbabwe's Masvingo province, about 320 kilometers from the capital Harare. The mine has been held by western mining enterprises for many years, and is on the verge of bankruptcy due to poor operation. China Mineral Resources Group Corporation (CMRC) acquired the Bikita mine in January 2022 and upgraded the mine in June 2022, the company said.
Mnangagwa visited the lithium pyroxene flotation plant on the same day, accompanied by Chinese personnel, and pressed the commissioning button in the central control room.
Mnangagwa said at the commissioning ceremony that the Bikita mine upgrading project invested by China Mineral Resources took just over a year to complete and officially put into production, and the Chinese company has fulfilled its commitments and brought advanced equipment and technology to Zimbabwe. The commissioning of the Bikita mine will help Zimbabwe realize its 2023 target of a mining output of 12 billion U.S. dollars. He also expressed his appreciation for China Mineral Resources' social welfare activities such as building bridges, school buildings and hospitals in the area.
In an interview with Xinhua, Wang Pingwei, chairman of China Mineral Resources, said the company will work to improve the value chain of lithium products and embark on the feasibility study of a local smelter, in a bid to keep more of the industry chain in Zimbabwe. In addition, the company will accelerate the construction of solar power stations in the region to help Zimbabwe realize green and sustainable development.
