Export of raw minerals and lithium banned

Zimbabwe has suspended exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect, its Mines Ministry said, after the government alleged malpractices and leakages. The Ministry said the ban on exports would remain in place until further notice and applied to all minerals currently in transit, reports TimesLIVE. ‘Government expects co-operation of the mining industry on this measure, which has been taken in the national interest,’ it said. In a letter addressed to Zimbabwe’s Chamber of Mines, the Mines Ministry said it would realign export processes due to concern about ‘continued malpractices during the exportation of minerals’. ‘This review is part of a broader effort to curb leakages and enhance efficiency within our systems,’ the Ministry wrote. Most of the concentrate is exported to China for further processing into battery-grade materials, but Zimbabwe has been pressing the miners to process more of the minerals in the country. Zimbabwe’s ban on lithium concentrates was previously expected to come into effect in 2027 as part of a push for more local processing.

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