[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":847},["ShallowReactive",2],{"ticker-data":3,"story-article/china-set-to-dominate-african-lithium-production-this-decade":540},[4,52,82,112,148,186,228,259,296,328,371,412,450,481,510],{"publishedDate":5,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":8,"today":9,"last":10,"percentageChange":11,"yearToDate":12,"yearOnYear":13,"oneYearIndexTrend":14,"url":48,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-05-27","2wk","Updated every 2 weeks","Lithium",411.01,408.51,0.61,75.85,175.57,[15,16,18,21,24,27,30,33,36,39,42,45],{"date":5,"value":9},{"date":17,"value":10},"2026-05-13",{"date":19,"value":20},"2026-04-29",372.51,{"date":22,"value":23},"2026-04-15",354.35,{"date":25,"value":26},"2026-04-01",346.55,{"date":28,"value":29},"2026-03-18",351.32,{"date":31,"value":32},"2026-03-04",346.6,{"date":34,"value":35},"2026-02-18",324,{"date":37,"value":38},"2026-02-04",337.67,{"date":40,"value":41},"2026-01-21",298.32,{"date":43,"value":44},"2026-01-07",233.73,{"date":46,"value":47},"2025-12-24",203.79,"/lithium/prices",null,false,true,{"publishedDate":5,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":53,"today":54,"last":55,"percentageChange":56,"yearToDate":57,"yearOnYear":58,"oneYearIndexTrend":59,"url":48,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"Lithium Carbonate",449.85,451.12,-0.28,77.12,181.56,[60,61,62,64,66,68,70,72,74,76,78,80],{"date":5,"value":54},{"date":17,"value":55},{"date":19,"value":63},404.38,{"date":22,"value":65},381.25,{"date":25,"value":67},371.52,{"date":28,"value":69},373.01,{"date":31,"value":71},366.63,{"date":34,"value":73},349.17,{"date":37,"value":75},356.81,{"date":40,"value":77},316.73,{"date":43,"value":79},253.98,{"date":46,"value":81},220.12,{"publishedDate":5,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":83,"today":84,"last":85,"percentageChange":86,"yearToDate":87,"yearOnYear":88,"oneYearIndexTrend":89,"url":48,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"Lithium Hydroxide",358.35,350.28,2.3,76.32,168.94,[90,91,92,94,96,98,100,102,104,106,108,110],{"date":5,"value":84},{"date":17,"value":85},{"date":19,"value":93},328.09,{"date":22,"value":95},316.95,{"date":25,"value":97},311.86,{"date":28,"value":99},321.41,{"date":31,"value":101},319.14,{"date":34,"value":103},295.42,{"date":37,"value":105},310,{"date":40,"value":107},270.4,{"date":43,"value":109},203.24,{"date":46,"value":111},177.17,{"publishedDate":19,"updateFrequency":113,"updateFrequencyText":114,"label":115,"today":116,"last":117,"percentageChange":118,"yearToDate":119,"yearOnYear":120,"oneYearIndexTrend":121,"url":147,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"1wk","Updated every week","Cobalt",244.61,252.61,-3.17,3.99,97.72,[122,123,124,127,129,132,133,136,138,141,143,146],{"date":19,"value":116},{"date":25,"value":117},{"date":125,"value":126},"2026-03-25",252.45,{"date":28,"value":128},252.84,{"date":130,"value":131},"2026-03-11",253.48,{"date":31,"value":126},{"date":134,"value":135},"2026-02-25",256.64,{"date":34,"value":137},255.58,{"date":139,"value":140},"2026-02-11",253.31,{"date":37,"value":142},252.26,{"date":144,"value":145},"2026-01-28",241.15,{"date":40,"value":145},"/cobalt/prices",{"publishedDate":149,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":150,"today":151,"last":152,"percentageChange":153,"yearToDate":154,"yearOnYear":155,"oneYearIndexTrend":156,"url":185,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-05-20","Nickel",135.83,133.05,2.09,12.5,30.68,[157,158,160,163,166,168,170,172,174,176,179,182],{"date":149,"value":151},{"date":159,"value":152},"2026-05-06",{"date":161,"value":162},"2026-04-22",125.43,{"date":164,"value":165},"2026-04-08",124.51,{"date":125,"value":167},123.94,{"date":130,"value":169},123.51,{"date":134,"value":171},122.7,{"date":139,"value":173},123.79,{"date":144,"value":175},128.07,{"date":177,"value":178},"2026-01-14",120.74,{"date":180,"value":181},"2025-12-31",104.29,{"date":183,"value":184},"2025-12-17",103.44,"/nickel/prices",{"publishedDate":187,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":189,"today":190,"last":191,"percentageChange":192,"yearToDate":193,"yearOnYear":194,"oneYearIndexTrend":195,"url":227,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-04-30","monthly","Natural Graphite",82.93,82.39,0.66,1.66,-0.87,[196,197,199,202,205,207,210,212,215,218,221,224],{"date":187,"value":190},{"date":198,"value":191},"2026-03-31",{"date":200,"value":201},"2026-02-27",81.92,{"date":203,"value":204},"2026-01-30",81.69,{"date":180,"value":206},81.58,{"date":208,"value":209},"2025-11-28",81.35,{"date":211,"value":209},"2025-10-31",{"date":213,"value":214},"2025-09-30",81.74,{"date":216,"value":217},"2025-08-29",81.56,{"date":219,"value":220},"2025-07-31",82.47,{"date":222,"value":223},"2025-06-30",83.13,{"date":225,"value":226},"2025-05-30",83.77,"/natural-graphite/prices",{"publishedDate":187,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":229,"today":230,"last":231,"percentageChange":232,"yearToDate":233,"yearOnYear":234,"oneYearIndexTrend":235,"url":258,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"Anode Coke",84.01,79.79,5.29,12.86,12.75,[236,237,238,240,242,244,246,248,250,252,254,256],{"date":187,"value":230},{"date":198,"value":231},{"date":200,"value":239},75.72,{"date":203,"value":241},74.61,{"date":180,"value":243},74.44,{"date":208,"value":245},76,{"date":211,"value":247},72.75,{"date":213,"value":249},71.92,{"date":216,"value":251},71.46,{"date":219,"value":253},70.35,{"date":222,"value":255},67.35,{"date":225,"value":257},65.78,"/synthetic-graphite/prices",{"publishedDate":260,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":261,"today":262,"last":263,"percentageChange":264,"yearToDate":265,"yearOnYear":265,"oneYearIndexTrend":266,"url":295,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2025-11-17","Anode",77.79,77.96,-0.22,-1.93,[267,268,270,272,274,277,280,282,284,287,290,292],{"date":260,"value":262},{"date":269,"value":263},"2025-10-15",{"date":271,"value":263},"2025-09-15",{"date":273,"value":263},"2025-08-15",{"date":275,"value":276},"2025-07-15",77.93,{"date":278,"value":279},"2025-06-16",78.88,{"date":281,"value":279},"2025-05-15",{"date":283,"value":279},"2025-04-15",{"date":285,"value":286},"2025-03-17",79.89,{"date":288,"value":289},"2025-02-17",78.97,{"date":291,"value":289},"2025-01-15",{"date":293,"value":294},"2024-12-16",79.32,"/anode/prices",{"publishedDate":297,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":298,"today":299,"last":300,"percentageChange":301,"yearToDate":301,"yearOnYear":302,"oneYearIndexTrend":303,"url":327,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-01-15","Cathode",72.79,64.08,13.59,43.38,[304,305,307,309,311,313,315,317,318,320,322,325],{"date":297,"value":299},{"date":306,"value":300},"2025-12-15",{"date":260,"value":308},62.01,{"date":269,"value":310},53.51,{"date":271,"value":312},49.5,{"date":273,"value":314},47.28,{"date":275,"value":316},46.05,{"date":278,"value":316},{"date":281,"value":319},48.08,{"date":283,"value":321},48.92,{"date":323,"value":324},"2025-03-18",52.79,{"date":288,"value":326},50.86,"/cathode/prices",{"publishedDate":329,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":330,"today":331,"last":332,"percentageChange":333,"yearToDate":334,"yearOnYear":335,"oneYearIndexTrend":336,"url":370,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2025-03-31","Lithium ion Batteries",74.53,71.3,4.53,-1.6,-20.88,[337,338,340,343,346,349,352,355,358,361,364,367],{"date":329,"value":331},{"date":339,"value":332},"2025-02-28",{"date":341,"value":342},"2025-01-31",71.45,{"date":344,"value":345},"2024-12-31",75.74,{"date":347,"value":348},"2024-11-29",76.98,{"date":350,"value":351},"2024-10-31",77.34,{"date":353,"value":354},"2024-09-30",77.43,{"date":356,"value":357},"2024-08-30",80.56,{"date":359,"value":360},"2024-07-31",82.99,{"date":362,"value":363},"2024-06-28",87.2,{"date":365,"value":366},"2024-05-31",90.7,{"date":368,"value":369},"2024-04-30",93.2,"/battery-gigafactory/prices",{"publishedDate":372,"updateFrequency":6,"updateFrequencyText":7,"label":373,"today":374,"last":375,"percentageChange":376,"yearToDate":377,"yearOnYear":378,"oneYearIndexTrend":379,"url":411,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-05-21","Black Mass",54.15,51.47,5.21,25.5,92.33,[380,381,383,386,389,392,395,398,401,404,406,408],{"date":372,"value":374},{"date":382,"value":375},"2026-05-07",{"date":384,"value":385},"2026-04-23",48.63,{"date":387,"value":388},"2026-04-09",48.6,{"date":390,"value":391},"2026-03-26",47.29,{"date":393,"value":394},"2026-03-12",46.18,{"date":396,"value":397},"2026-02-26",45.8,{"date":399,"value":400},"2026-02-12",47.34,{"date":402,"value":403},"2026-01-29",49.57,{"date":297,"value":405},43.15,{"date":180,"value":407},47.05,{"date":409,"value":410},"2025-12-18",41.51,"/recycling/black-mass-prices",{"publishedDate":413,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":414,"today":415,"last":416,"percentageChange":417,"yearToDate":418,"yearOnYear":419,"oneYearIndexTrend":420,"url":449,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"2026-03-19","Rare Earths",172.27,182.38,-5.54,20.73,54.49,[421,422,424,427,430,432,435,437,440,443,445,447],{"date":413,"value":415},{"date":423,"value":416},"2026-03-05",{"date":425,"value":426},"2026-02-19",179.86,{"date":428,"value":429},"2026-02-05",155.4,{"date":431,"value":429},"2026-01-22",{"date":433,"value":434},"2026-01-08",145.37,{"date":46,"value":436},142.69,{"date":438,"value":439},"2025-12-11",141.67,{"date":441,"value":442},"2025-11-27",136.29,{"date":211,"value":444},132.15,{"date":213,"value":446},139.82,{"date":216,"value":448},145.27,"/rare-earths/prices",{"publishedDate":213,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":451,"today":452,"last":453,"percentageChange":454,"yearToDate":455,"yearOnYear":456,"oneYearIndexTrend":457,"url":370,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"LFP",111.93,124.92,-10.4,-2.67,-3.42,[458,459,460,462,464,466,469,471,473,475,477,479],{"date":213,"value":452},{"date":216,"value":453},{"date":219,"value":461},109.9,{"date":222,"value":463},100.47,{"date":225,"value":465},103.62,{"date":467,"value":468},"2025-04-30",109.47,{"date":329,"value":470},115.87,{"date":339,"value":472},117.3,{"date":341,"value":474},114.57,{"date":344,"value":476},115,{"date":347,"value":478},117.82,{"date":350,"value":480},111.9,{"publishedDate":213,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":482,"today":483,"last":484,"percentageChange":485,"yearToDate":486,"yearOnYear":487,"oneYearIndexTrend":488,"url":370,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"NCM High-Nickel",99.44,96.91,2.61,2.37,-3.84,[489,490,491,493,495,497,499,501,503,505,506,508],{"date":213,"value":483},{"date":216,"value":484},{"date":219,"value":492},97.09,{"date":222,"value":494},94.93,{"date":225,"value":496},97.13,{"date":467,"value":498},97.89,{"date":329,"value":500},101.4,{"date":339,"value":502},93.25,{"date":341,"value":504},98.94,{"date":344,"value":496},{"date":347,"value":507},98.69,{"date":350,"value":509},101.87,{"publishedDate":213,"updateFrequency":188,"updateFrequencyText":188,"label":511,"today":512,"last":513,"percentageChange":514,"yearToDate":515,"yearOnYear":516,"oneYearIndexTrend":517,"url":370,"subscription":49,"isProtected":50,"hasAccess":51},"NCM Mid-Nickel",103.5,99.73,3.78,13.78,6.78,[518,519,520,522,524,526,528,530,532,534,536,538],{"date":213,"value":512},{"date":216,"value":513},{"date":219,"value":521},99.19,{"date":222,"value":523},96.02,{"date":225,"value":525},98.23,{"date":467,"value":527},99.24,{"date":329,"value":529},101.29,{"date":339,"value":531},87.61,{"date":341,"value":533},92.44,{"date":344,"value":535},90.96,{"date":347,"value":537},92.24,{"date":350,"value":539},95.09,{"id":541,"uuid":542,"name":543,"slug":544,"full_slug":545,"content":546,"relatedArticles":845,"relatedVideos":846},112471511669360,"3cb4ed26-60e7-4110-b1f8-39737eb84c25","China set to dominate African lithium production this decade","china-set-to-dominate-african-lithium-production-this-decade","article/china-set-to-dominate-african-lithium-production-this-decade",{"_uid":547,"date":548,"tags":549,"editor":556,"content":566,"excerpt":822,"featured":51,"reporter":823,"_editable":827,"component":828,"seo_title":543,"categories":829,"visibility":838,"author_company":49,"featured_image":839,"seo_description":822,"author_full_name":49,"author_job_title":49,"formattedDate":843,"formattedArticleDate":844},"8ed5f375-d179-474b-89c1-dfd354f83cca","2023-04-14 00:00",[550,553],{"slug":551,"name":552},"africa","Africa",{"slug":554,"name":555},"china","China",[557],{"slug":558,"name":559,"content":560},"matthew-bird","Matthew Bird",{"job_title":561,"image":562,"bio":564,"linkedin":565},"Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation",{"filename":563},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/14738033ec/matthew-bird.jpeg","Matthew writes, edits and produces content for Benchmark Intelligence and Benchmark Source across the whole mine to grid supply chain. He also acts as a liaison to the press. He has a PhD in electrochemistry from the University of Nottingham.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/birdmatthew/",{"type":567,"content":568},"doc",[569,576,581,586,591,596,601,616,621,626,631,640,647,652,665,670,675,680,685,690,695,700,705,710,715,720,725,730,735,740,745,750,755,760,765,770,775,787,792,797,802,807,812,817],{"type":570,"attrs":571,"content":572},"paragraph",{"textAlign":49},[573],{"text":574,"type":575},"China is set to dominate lithium production in Africa this decade, with over 90% of supply set to come from mining companies partly or fully owned by Chinese companies, according to Benchmark.","text",{"type":570,"attrs":577,"content":578},{"textAlign":49},[579],{"text":580,"type":575},"Of the 27 planned lithium mines in Africa, Chinese companies are full owners of eight and majority owners of three, Benchmark data shows.",{"type":570,"attrs":582,"content":583},{"textAlign":49},[584],{"text":585,"type":575},"Chinese companies are increasingly looking to Africa as a source of feedstock for the country’s giant lithium industry, as they face greater hostility from governments in Canada and Australia towards Chinese natural resource investment. ",{"type":570,"attrs":587,"content":588},{"textAlign":49},[589],{"text":590,"type":575},"China processes almost half of the world’s lithium needed for batteries, but lacks significant sources of domestic lithium feedstock to feed its industry, making it necessary to look overseas. ",{"type":570,"attrs":592,"content":593},{"textAlign":49},[594],{"text":595,"type":575},"African hard rock supply will play an increasingly important role in the global lithium market, growing from 1% of supply last year to 10% by 2030, according to Benchmark. ",{"type":570,"attrs":597,"content":598},{"textAlign":49},[599],{"text":600,"type":575},"The five largest mines by forecast production in 2030 all have Chinese involvement, with Chinese companies fully owning three of them.",{"type":570,"attrs":602,"content":603},{"textAlign":49},[604,606,614],{"text":605,"type":575},"Wang Xiaoshen, president of Chinese miner Ganfeng Lithium, ",{"text":607,"type":575,"marks":608},"told Benchmark Source",[609],{"type":610,"attrs":611},"link",{"href":612,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":613},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/we-believe-africa-will-be-the-next-good-opportunity-for-lithium-qa-with-wang-xiaoshen-of-ganfeng-lithium","url",{"text":615,"type":575}," this month that Africa was the “next good opportunity for lithium”.",{"type":570,"attrs":617,"content":618},{"textAlign":49},[619],{"text":620,"type":575},"Ganfeng is currently developing the Goulamina spodumene mine in Mali, which is set to come into production in 2024. It’s also investing in early-stage ventures across the continent, according to Wang. ",{"type":570,"attrs":622,"content":623},{"textAlign":49},[624],{"text":625,"type":575},"The speed of construction in Africa has already suprised the market. Sinomine is expected to finish a large expansion at the Bikita mine in Zimbabwe this year, producing 15,000 tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). ",{"type":570,"attrs":627,"content":628},{"textAlign":49},[629],{"text":630,"type":575},"Chengxin’s Sabi Star, Huayou Cobalt’s Arcadia and Premier African Minerals’ Zulu projects are also expected to enter production this year. ",{"type":570,"attrs":632,"content":633},{"textAlign":49},[634],{"type":635,"attrs":636},"image",{"id":49,"alt":637,"src":638,"title":49,"source":49,"copyright":49,"meta_data":639},"","https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/065f153acb/bm-africa-lithium-chart.png",{},{"type":641,"attrs":642,"content":644},"heading",{"level":643,"textAlign":49},4,[645],{"text":646,"type":575},"China invests in Zimbabwe",{"type":570,"attrs":648,"content":649},{"textAlign":49},[650],{"text":651,"type":575},"Almost two-thirds of all lithium projects across Africa with at least some Chinese company involvement are located in Zimbabwe.  ",{"type":570,"attrs":653,"content":654},{"textAlign":49},[655,657,663],{"text":656,"type":575},"Chinese companies are majority or full owners in 10 of the 14 lithium projects in ",{"text":658,"type":575,"marks":659},"Zimbabwe",[660],{"type":610,"attrs":661},{"href":662,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":613},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/zimbabwes-lithium-ore-export-ban-highlights-africas-lithium-potential",{"text":664,"type":575},", both operating and planned. ",{"type":570,"attrs":666,"content":667},{"textAlign":49},[668],{"text":669,"type":575},"The pace of development here is “unprecedented,” according to Benchmark analyst Cameron Perks.",{"type":570,"attrs":671,"content":672},{"textAlign":49},[673],{"text":674,"type":575},"Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt has started trial production at its Arcadia mine, having spent $300 million to acquire it in May 2022. Elsewhere the Zulu lithium mine has almost gone into production and it started construction in June of last year. ",{"type":641,"attrs":676,"content":677},{"level":643,"textAlign":49},[678],{"text":679,"type":575},"China and the rest",{"type":570,"attrs":681,"content":682},{"textAlign":49},[683],{"text":684,"type":575},"The data highlights the gap between China and the rest of the world in the race to secure critical minerals supplies, despite political efforts by the US and Europe.",{"type":570,"attrs":686,"content":687},{"textAlign":49},[688],{"text":689,"type":575},"In January 2023, UK-listed Kodal Minerals sold a 51% stake in its Bougouni mine in Mali to China’s Hainan Mining for £81m ($100m). ",{"type":570,"attrs":691,"content":692},{"textAlign":49},[693],{"text":694,"type":575},"Hainan has since confirmed that Chinese authorities have greenlighted its funding and investment into Kodal.",{"type":570,"attrs":696,"content":697},{"textAlign":49},[698],{"text":699,"type":575},"These funds should allow Kodal to commence drilling, mining, and exploration, according to the company. ",{"type":641,"attrs":701,"content":702},{"level":643,"textAlign":49},[703],{"text":704,"type":575},"US overtures to Africa",{"type":570,"attrs":706,"content":707},{"textAlign":49},[708],{"text":709,"type":575},"The US is increasingly focusing on African resources, driven by the aims of reducing import dependence on China while counteracting its influence in the developing world.",{"type":570,"attrs":711,"content":712},{"textAlign":49},[713],{"text":714,"type":575},"In late March, the US Vice President Kamala Harris visited the continent, highlighting a number of resource projects during her visit. ",{"type":570,"attrs":716,"content":717},{"textAlign":49},[718],{"text":719,"type":575},"But Piedmont Lithium is the only US company invested in lithium on the contient, via its 9.4% ownership of Atlantic Lithium, which is developing the Ewoyaa project in Ghana. ",{"type":641,"attrs":721,"content":722},{"level":643,"textAlign":49},[723],{"text":724,"type":575},"Struggle for control of DRC mega-mine ",{"type":570,"attrs":726,"content":727},{"textAlign":49},[728],{"text":729,"type":575},"Australia is gearing up to be another major player in African lithium mining, coming second to China in terms of primary project ownership across all sites.",{"type":570,"attrs":731,"content":732},{"textAlign":49},[733],{"text":734,"type":575},"A major Chinese-Australian project, however, is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute.",{"type":570,"attrs":736,"content":737},{"textAlign":49},[738],{"text":739,"type":575},"The case revolves around Manono, a spodumene mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo that could become Africa’s biggest single lithium source by the end of the decade. Benchmark forecasts it could yield 95,000 tonnes LCE in 2030.   ",{"type":570,"attrs":741,"content":742},{"textAlign":49},[743],{"text":744,"type":575},"Australian miner AVZ claims it legally acquired a 75% interest in Manono from DRC company Dathomir Mining Resources in August 2021.",{"type":570,"attrs":746,"content":747},{"textAlign":49},[748],{"text":749,"type":575},"AVZ’s claim has been challenged on multiple fronts, however. On 14 May 2021, Dathomir released a statement saying it had terminated the sales and purchase agreement with AVZ.",{"type":570,"attrs":751,"content":752},{"textAlign":49},[753],{"text":754,"type":575},"Chinese miner Zijin says it owns 15% of AVZ’s stake, saying it had the portion transferred to it by La Congolaise D’Exploitation Miniere SA (Cominiere.)",{"type":570,"attrs":756,"content":757},{"textAlign":49},[758],{"text":759,"type":575},"In January 2023, the DRC Minister of Mines refused to convert AVZ’s exploration licence for Manono into a mining licence, citing disagreements among Dathomir shareholders.",{"type":570,"attrs":761,"content":762},{"textAlign":49},[763],{"text":764,"type":575},"The Australian Security Exchanges suspended AVZ on April 12 2023 for failing to disclose these and other difficulties in asserting its ownership over Manono.   ",{"type":641,"attrs":766,"content":767},{"level":643,"textAlign":49},[768],{"text":769,"type":575},"Zimbabwe pushes back on unprocessed exports",{"type":570,"attrs":771,"content":772},{"textAlign":49},[773],{"text":774,"type":575},"Export controls by host nations may be another point of tension along China’s path to dominating Africa’s lithium supply.  ",{"type":570,"attrs":776,"content":777},{"textAlign":49},[778,780,785],{"text":779,"type":575},"It has already faced",{"text":781,"type":575,"marks":782}," pushback from Zimbabwe",[783],{"type":610,"attrs":784},{"href":662,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":613},{"text":786,"type":575},", who banned the export of unprocessed lithium ores in December 2022.",{"type":570,"attrs":788,"content":789},{"textAlign":49},[790],{"text":791,"type":575},"Yet moves like this are unlikely to dent China’s pre-eminence in upstream and midstream lithium, according to Perks.",{"type":641,"attrs":793,"content":794},{"level":643,"textAlign":49},[795],{"text":796,"type":575},"Low lithium prices hitting processing, not mining",{"type":570,"attrs":798,"content":799},{"textAlign":49},[800],{"text":801,"type":575},"Falling lithium prices are another challenge for African projects. ",{"type":570,"attrs":803,"content":804},{"textAlign":49},[805],{"text":806,"type":575},"Chinese battery-grade lithium carbonate prices have fallen by 60% this year to RMB 213,000 ($31,014) a tonne, according to Benchmark’s latest weekly price assessment. ",{"type":570,"attrs":808,"content":809},{"textAlign":49},[810],{"text":811,"type":575},"Yet miners and processors are experiencing the depressed market in different ways.",{"type":570,"attrs":813,"content":814},{"textAlign":49},[815],{"text":816,"type":575},"For miners around the world, prices are still higher than costs, according to Perks. Spodumene prices have risen by 16% this year to $5,393 a tonne, according to Benchmark. ",{"type":570,"attrs":818,"content":819},{"textAlign":49},[820],{"text":821,"type":575},"“At current prices, almost anything is viable,” he said. “Actually, feedstock prices are still strong.”","China is set to dominate lithium production in Africa this decade, with over 90% of supply set to come from mining companies partly or fully owned by Chinese companies, according to Benchmark. Of the 27 planned lithium mines in Africa, Chinese companies are full owners of eight and majority owners of three, Benchmark data shows. […]",[824],{"slug":558,"name":559,"content":825},{"job_title":561,"image":826,"bio":564,"linkedin":565},{"filename":563},"\u003C!--#storyblok#{\"name\": \"article\", \"space\": \"\", \"uid\": \"8ed5f375-d179-474b-89c1-dfd354f83cca\", \"id\": \"\"}-->","article",[830,833,836],{"slug":831,"name":832},"critical-minerals","Critical Minerals",{"slug":834,"name":835},"geopolitics","Geopolitics",{"slug":837,"name":8},"lithium","private",{"id":49,"alt":637,"name":637,"focus":637,"title":637,"source":637,"filename":840,"copyright":637,"fieldtype":841,"meta_data":842,"is_external_url":51},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/bf56be92dc/bm-china-africa.jpg","asset",{"alt":637,"title":637,"source":637,"copyright":637},"Apr 14, 2023","14th April 2023",[],[],1782385852990]