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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":579,"content":580},"doc",[581,598,626,631,636,645,652,657,662,667,680,693,700,705,710,715,720,725,746,753,758,771,776,781,786,791,796,801,806,811,816,821,826,831,838,843,848,853,858,866,873],{"type":582,"attrs":583,"content":584},"paragraph",{"textAlign":49},[585,588,596],{"text":586,"type":587},"Zimbabwe is currently the fourth largest producer of mined lithium globally, and is at the heart of ","text",{"text":589,"type":587,"marks":590},"Africa’s rising strength",[591],{"type":592,"attrs":593},"link",{"href":594,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/africas-lithium-supply-to-treble-this-year-china-dominates-region?_branch_match_id=1544410942103638391&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXBQQqAIBAF0BvpLiKIFh7AI4QOYyPqKF%2BhXWfvPVlrzMPayErSAkrLygh1mjCGqVmL3dwuRJq8j9cHTgxkfe6I%2Fk7G6QS98Q%2FWigvTSAAAAA%3D%3D","url",{"text":597,"type":587}," in the global lithium industry.",{"type":582,"attrs":599,"content":600},{"textAlign":49},[601,603,609,611,617,619,624],{"text":602,"type":587},"Africa’s mined lithium supply is ",{"text":604,"type":587,"marks":605},"set to increase",[606],{"type":592,"attrs":607},{"href":608,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/africas-critical-mineral-production-poised-for-rapid-growth?_branch_match_id=1544410926422523657&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0rNS87ITSzKzs3MSy1KzCnWSywo0MvJzMvWDzP1KPIMK0zz90%2ByrytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnXOKMrPTQUAMiaLnkgAAAA%3D",{"text":610,"type":587}," nine-fold between 2023 and 2030, according to ",{"text":612,"type":587,"marks":613},"Benchmark’s Lithium Forecast",[614],{"type":592,"attrs":615},{"href":616,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://www.benchmarkminerals.com/lithium/data-reports/forecast",{"text":618,"type":587},", when it is forecast to account for 14% of global supply. ",{"text":567,"type":587,"marks":620},[621],{"type":592,"attrs":622},{"href":623,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://www.benchmarkminerals.com/",{"text":625,"type":587}," is set to account for up to 57% of African mined lithium supplies in the same year.",{"type":582,"attrs":627,"content":628},{"textAlign":49},[629],{"text":630,"type":587},"Benchmark’s product director for lithium, Cameron Perks, recently visited Zimbabwe to assess the state of play in the country from the costs associated with production to the infrastructure and mine setups.",{"type":582,"attrs":632,"content":633},{"textAlign":49},[634],{"text":635,"type":587},"“The key takeaway is that the costs across the country are so varied, and higher than one might expect,” he said.",{"type":582,"attrs":637,"content":638},{"textAlign":49},[639],{"type":640,"attrs":641},"image",{"id":49,"alt":642,"src":643,"title":49,"source":49,"copyright":49,"meta_data":644},"","https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/ee3c0b0c9d/bm-africa-lithium2x-1.png",{},{"type":646,"attrs":647,"content":649},"heading",{"level":648,"textAlign":49},4,[650],{"text":651,"type":587},"China in Zimbabwe",{"type":582,"attrs":653,"content":654},{"textAlign":49},[655],{"text":656,"type":587},"There has been lithium mining in Zimbabwe since the 1950s, through the Bikita mine in the Masvingo province. In the early days, the petalite mined there was destined for industrial use, though this changed as lithium ion batteries emerged as a key technology.",{"type":582,"attrs":658,"content":659},{"textAlign":49},[660],{"text":661,"type":587},"“When Sinomine acquired it, they stopped all external shipments and were using all the lithium solely internally to convert into lithium chemicals in China,” Perks said.",{"type":582,"attrs":663,"content":664},{"textAlign":49},[665],{"text":666,"type":587},"In 2023, the number of operating projects increased from just one to four, with another project coming online in 2024.",{"type":582,"attrs":668,"content":669},{"textAlign":49},[670,672,678],{"text":671,"type":587},"Of these five operating lithium projects, ",{"text":673,"type":587,"marks":674},"four are majority owned by Chinese companies",[675],{"type":592,"attrs":676},{"href":677,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/african-lithium-exports-climb-as-chinese-owned-mines-go-online?_branch_match_id=1544410972060491111&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0rNS87ITSzKzs3MSy1KzCnWSywo0MvJzMvWNzEIdowyz0%2Fz90%2ByrytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnXOKMrPTQUAbSUy8EgAAAA%3D",{"text":679,"type":587}," with Premier African Minerals’ Zulu mine being the only exception. Although Premier is a UK-based company, 13% of the Zulu mine is owned by China’s Suzhou TA&A.",{"type":582,"attrs":681,"content":682},{"textAlign":49},[683,685,691],{"text":684,"type":587},"“",{"text":686,"type":587,"marks":687},"Chinese companies",[688],{"type":592,"attrs":689},{"href":690,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/we-believe-africa-will-be-the-next-good-opportunity-for-lithium-qa-with-wang-xiaoshen-of-ganfeng-lithium?_branch_match_id=1544410934293771409&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0rNS87ITSzKzs3MSy1KzCnWSywo0MvJzMvWDykrLgwLLUnz90%2ByrytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnXOKMrPTQUAQmOXJkgAAAA%3D",{"text":692,"type":587}," have acquired some of these projects at very advanced stages when lithium prices were at their highs and everyone was scrambling for lithium,” Perks said. “Often these were low hanging fruits.”",{"type":582,"attrs":694,"content":695},{"textAlign":49},[696],{"type":640,"attrs":697},{"id":49,"alt":642,"src":698,"title":49,"source":49,"copyright":49,"meta_data":699},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/70b6c7c020/bm-zimbabwes-lithium-mines2x.png",{},{"type":582,"attrs":701,"content":702},{"textAlign":49},[703],{"text":704,"type":587},"China’s appetite to invest in African resources is made clear through its Belt and Road Initiative launched in 2013, of which Zimbabwe is a part. Through this scheme, the Chinese government invests in and develops infrastructure in regions deemed to be of strategic importance.",{"type":582,"attrs":706,"content":707},{"textAlign":49},[708],{"text":709,"type":587},"“Chinese companies can navigate the complex political systems,” Perks said. “They have the stomach to invest in an environment which is not always clear in terms of regulations.”",{"type":646,"attrs":711,"content":712},{"level":648,"textAlign":49},[713],{"text":714,"type":587},"Wide cost base in Zimbabwe",{"type":582,"attrs":716,"content":717},{"textAlign":49},[718],{"text":719,"type":587},"Through conversations with miners in Zimbabwe, Perks noted a wide range of costs for lithium projects in the country from $600 per tonne at the low end to over $1,000 per tonne at the upper end.",{"type":582,"attrs":721,"content":722},{"textAlign":49},[723],{"text":724,"type":587},"“The range of costs is so broad because there is such a diverse project quality,” Perks said. “Most of the projects incur higher transportation cost, the difference between them is in the quality of the rocks and the processing of them.”",{"type":582,"attrs":726,"content":727},{"textAlign":49},[728,730,736,738,744],{"text":729,"type":587},"Given that ",{"text":731,"type":587,"marks":732},"Benchmark assesses",[733],{"type":592,"attrs":734},{"href":735,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://www.benchmarkminerals.com/lithium/lithium-prices/table",{"text":737,"type":587}," that spodumene currently trades at $765 per tonne (FOB Australia, 6% Li2O) and has been below ",{"text":739,"type":587,"marks":740},"$1,000 per tonne since the start of the year",[741],{"type":592,"attrs":742},{"href":743,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/miners-under-pressure-as-spodumene-price-falls-below-1000-a-tonne?_branch_match_id=1544410950463698997&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0rNS87ITSzKzs3MSy1KzCnWSywo0MvJzMvWL4nINvdzdykr90%2ByrytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnXOKMrPTQUAbSNOfUgAAAA%3D",{"text":745,"type":587},", the higher end of these costs are likely hard to stomach.",{"type":582,"attrs":747,"content":748},{"textAlign":49},[749],{"type":640,"attrs":750},{"id":49,"alt":642,"src":751,"title":49,"source":49,"copyright":49,"meta_data":752},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/c9df736306/bm-arcadia-petalite-processing.jpeg",{},{"type":582,"attrs":754,"content":755},{"textAlign":49},[756],{"text":757,"type":587},"Cameron Perks, product director for lithium at Benchmark, looking at a petalite processing line during a site visit to the Arcadia mine in Zimbabwe. Image shared with permission from Huayou Cobalt.",{"type":582,"attrs":759,"content":760},{"textAlign":49},[761,763,769],{"text":762,"type":587},"Yet although Australia—the largest hard rock lithium mining country—has seen ",{"text":764,"type":587,"marks":765},"multiple mines entering care and maintenance",[766],{"type":592,"attrs":767},{"href":768,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"https://source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/australian-lithium-supply-cut-by-15-due-to-low-spodumene-prices?_branch_match_id=1544410964162636322&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0rNS87ITSzKzs3MSy1KzCnWSywo0MvJzMvWjyhx8UoMyzR180%2ByrytKTUstKsrMS49PKsovL04tsnXOKMrPTQUA6UsK%2F0gAAAA%3D",{"text":770,"type":587}," amid the low price environment, Zimbabwean mines still look to be operating.",{"type":582,"attrs":772,"content":773},{"textAlign":49},[774],{"text":775,"type":587},"“The reason why the higher cost mines haven’t come offline, is you potentially lose your delicate licence to operate, and if you don’t progress your project, the Zimbabweans may take it off you,” Perks said, “Additionally, restarting such a huge operation, reskilling, moving your skilled Chinese labour, is a huge undertaking, and it’s a decision not to be taken lightly.”",{"type":582,"attrs":777,"content":778},{"textAlign":49},[779],{"text":780,"type":587},"Another factor keeping Zimbabwe’s lithium mines operating is the ownership structure. Some of the Chinese owners of Zimbabwe’s lithium projects are vertically integrated, or at least well connected with Chinese cathode and cell makes.",{"type":582,"attrs":782,"content":783},{"textAlign":49},[784],{"text":785,"type":587},"“Australian deposit quality, product quality and infrastructure is superior. But Australian miners are simply not making cathode, cells or EVs,” Perks said.",{"type":646,"attrs":787,"content":788},{"level":648,"textAlign":49},[789],{"text":790,"type":587},"Government royalties hit hard at low prices",{"type":582,"attrs":792,"content":793},{"textAlign":49},[794],{"text":795,"type":587},"The Zimbabwean government officially takes 5% of revenue from lithium mining as a royalty. However contacts told Perks that in reality a number of other government levies push the effective government cut much higher.",{"type":582,"attrs":797,"content":798},{"textAlign":49},[799],{"text":800,"type":587},"With lithium prices so low, this royalty adds an extra squeeze onto already razor thin margins.",{"type":582,"attrs":802,"content":803},{"textAlign":49},[804],{"text":805,"type":587},"Lithium miners, through the country’s Chamber of Mines, have proposed linking the royalty rate to lithium prices to provide some relief when prices are low but still benefiting the government when prices pick back up.",{"type":646,"attrs":807,"content":808},{"level":648,"textAlign":49},[809],{"text":810,"type":587},"Operating in Zimbabwe",{"type":582,"attrs":812,"content":813},{"textAlign":49},[814],{"text":815,"type":587},"Where Australia is a relatively easy jurisdiction to operate a lithium mine in, Zimbabwe poses a wide range of challenges.",{"type":582,"attrs":817,"content":818},{"textAlign":49},[819],{"text":820,"type":587},"“Key challenges for operating in Zimbabwe would include the infrastructure, electricity availability, skilled people, and dealing with the complex regulations,” Perks said.",{"type":582,"attrs":822,"content":823},{"textAlign":49},[824],{"text":825,"type":587},"A significant percentage of Zimbabwe’s electricity comes from hydropower. However a punishing drought has led to falling water levels which has caused the Kariba hydroelectric dam to significantly reduce capacity leading to power outages.",{"type":582,"attrs":827,"content":828},{"textAlign":49},[829],{"text":830,"type":587},"Power outages can be costly for mining operations, especially if they occur regularly. Indeed, Perks experienced several power cuts during his visit to the country.",{"type":582,"attrs":832,"content":833},{"textAlign":49},[834],{"type":640,"attrs":835},{"id":49,"alt":642,"src":836,"title":49,"source":49,"copyright":49,"meta_data":837},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/65c4f0c928/bm-arcadia-saleable-petalite.jpeg",{},{"type":582,"attrs":839,"content":840},{"textAlign":49},[841],{"text":842,"type":587},"Product director for Lithium at Benchmark, Cameron Perks, in front of a pile of saleable petalite during a site visit to the Arcadia mine in Zimbabwe Image shared with permission by Huayou Cobalt.",{"type":582,"attrs":844,"content":845},{"textAlign":49},[846],{"text":847,"type":587},"Beyond power outages, electricity prices are also unreliable leading to miners in the country to invest directly into their own electricity generation. A dedicated coal power plant will be built at the Sandawana lithium mine, for example.",{"type":582,"attrs":849,"content":850},{"textAlign":49},[851],{"text":852,"type":587},"Despite the challenges, Zimbabwe remains at the heart of Africa’s rising position in the global lithium market.",{"type":582,"attrs":854,"content":855},{"textAlign":49},[856],{"text":857,"type":587},"“Zimbabwe is home to several operating mines with more in development,” Perks said. “It’s a natural resource rich country.”",{"type":582,"attrs":859,"content":860},{"textAlign":49},[861],{"text":862,"type":587,"marks":863},"Benchmark has the world’s largest team of analysts dedicated to lithium ion and energy transition supply chains.",[864],{"type":865},"italic",{"type":582,"attrs":867,"content":868},{"textAlign":49},[869],{"text":870,"type":587,"marks":871},"Our rigorous, first-hand approach to research involves regular site visits and direct contact with market participants to supplement Benchmark’s extensive datasets and analyses.",[872],{"type":865},{"type":582,"attrs":874,"content":875},{"textAlign":49},[876,880,882,888],{"text":877,"type":587,"marks":878},"To discuss research opportunities for Benchmark analysts to visit your site, reach out to Benchmark",[879],{"type":865},{"text":881,"type":587}," at ",{"text":883,"type":587,"marks":884},"contact@benchmarkminerals.com",[885],{"type":592,"attrs":886},{"href":887,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":49,"linktype":595},"mailto:contact@benchmarkminerals.com",{"text":889,"type":587},".","Zimbabwe is currently the fourth largest producer of mined lithium globally, and is at the heart of Africa’s rising strength in the global lithium industry. Africa’s mined lithium supply is set to increase nine-fold between 2023 and 2030, according to Benchmark’s Lithium Forecast, when it is forecast to account for 14% of global supply. Zimbabwe […]",[892],{"slug":570,"name":571,"content":893},{"job_title":573,"image":894,"bio":576,"linkedin":577},{"filename":575},"\u003C!--#storyblok#{\"name\": \"article\", \"space\": \"\", \"uid\": \"22844d35-758b-47d5-9750-07e55d435a49\", \"id\": \"\"}-->","article",[898,901],{"slug":899,"name":900},"critical-minerals","Critical Minerals",{"slug":902,"name":8},"lithium","private",{"id":49,"alt":642,"name":642,"focus":642,"title":642,"source":642,"filename":643,"copyright":642,"fieldtype":905,"meta_data":906,"is_external_url":51},"asset",{"alt":642,"title":642,"source":642,"copyright":642},{"id":49,"alt":642,"name":642,"focus":642,"title":642,"source":642,"filename":908,"copyright":642,"fieldtype":905,"meta_data":909,"is_external_url":51},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/554e369eb1/bm-arcadia-mine-zimbabwe.jpg",{"alt":642,"title":642,"source":642,"copyright":642},"Nov 26, 2024","26th November 2024",[],[],1781882606150]