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leading its China lithium research. She has extensive experience in lithium mine projects, contributing to Benchmark’s lithium cost, supply-demand and price forecast models. Previously, has participated in investment and financing projects for lithium mining ventures. She led lithium market analysis collaborate with Chinese universities on joint lithium research projects  when she's in Lithium Research Institute.","5fe7449d-8dbe-4db6-ae8a-aa36f89cb91f",{"id":551,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":552,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":554,"is_external_url":50},148108741777252,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/8c56ffe68d/zoey-zuo.jpeg","asset",{},"https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoey-zuo-615637151/","author","Senior Analyst - Lithium ",[],[],[561,845,1033],{"id":562,"uuid":563,"name":564,"slug":565,"full_slug":566,"content":567},193458351141760,"db188e75-4e76-4922-8b2d-44e9328b6e3c","CATL secures safety production permit for Jianxiawo lithium mine","catl-secures-safety-production-permit-for-jianxiawo-lithium-mine","article/catl-secures-safety-production-permit-for-jianxiawo-lithium-mine",{"_uid":568,"date":569,"tags":570,"editor":586,"content":596,"excerpt":810,"featured":51,"reporter":811,"component":824,"seo_title":564,"categories":825,"visibility":834,"data_vis_image":835,"featured_image":839,"seo_description":843,"formattedDate":844},"6426e28a-1aca-48df-aece-053bc3522207","2026-07-01 00:00",[571,574,577,580,583],{"slug":572,"name":573},"catl","CATL",{"slug":575,"name":576},"jiangxi","Jiangxi",{"slug":578,"name":579},"china","China",{"slug":581,"name":582},"lithium-prices","Lithium prices",{"slug":584,"name":585},"data-visualisation","Data Visualisation",[587],{"slug":588,"name":589,"content":590},"matthew-bird","Matthew Bird",{"job_title":591,"image":592,"bio":594,"linkedin":595},"Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation",{"filename":593},"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":597,"content":598},"doc",[599,628,650,664,672,680,690,700,722,744,752,760,766,788],{"type":600,"attrs":601,"content":602},"paragraph",{"textAlign":49},[603,611,623],{"text":604,"type":605,"marks":606},"CATL can likely restart its Jianxiawo lepidolite lithium mine in ","text",[607],{"type":608,"attrs":609},"textStyle",{"color":610},"#000000",{"text":612,"type":605,"marks":613},"Jiangxi, China",[614,621],{"type":615,"attrs":616},"link",{"href":617,"uuid":618,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/what-do-the-recent-jiangxi-permit-cancellations-mean-for-the-lithium-industry","f1d4e410-77c1-4103-8b56-b84209e2fc88","_self","story",{"type":608,"attrs":622},{"color":610},{"text":624,"type":605,"marks":625}," after securing a safety production permit.",[626],{"type":608,"attrs":627},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":629,"content":630},{"textAlign":49},[631,636,645],{"text":632,"type":605,"marks":633},"Benchmark has seen a copy of the permit certificate, which was considered the last official hurdle CATL needed to overcome to resume production at the mine which has been ",[634],{"type":608,"attrs":635},{"color":610},{"text":637,"type":605,"marks":638},"idle since August 2025",[639,643],{"type":615,"attrs":640},{"href":641,"uuid":642,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/catl-suspends-operations-at-jianxiawo-mine-as-permit-expires","05b62118-3b19-42d6-a4c9-086754fa9e2c",{"type":608,"attrs":644},{"color":610},{"text":646,"type":605,"marks":647},".",[648],{"type":608,"attrs":649},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":651,"content":652},{"textAlign":49},[653,660],{"type":654,"attrs":655},"image",{"id":656,"alt":657,"src":658,"title":657,"source":547,"copyright":547,"meta_data":659},193463603157791,"Safety Production Permit for Jianxiawo","https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/1782x1260/021ff6bd51/img_6943.jpg",{"alt":657,"title":657,"source":547,"copyright":547},{"text":657,"type":605,"marks":661},[662],{"type":663},"italic",{"type":600,"attrs":665,"content":666},{"textAlign":49},[667],{"text":668,"type":605,"marks":669},"Benchmark’s Q2 Lithium Forecast anticipates 37kt lithium carbonate equivalent to be mined from Jianxiawo in 2026 assuming a September restart, accounting for ~1.5% of global mined lithium supply. This production figure could increase if the mine is restarted earlier than expected, something that is increasingly likely given the rapid pace of approvals in the past week. The mine is anticipated to operate at its planned capacity of 150ktpa by 2029.",[670],{"type":608,"attrs":671},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":673,"content":674},{"textAlign":49},[675],{"text":676,"type":605,"marks":677},"Although the safety production permit looks to allow CATL to resume production, it is unclear whether issues surrounding the mine’s tailings remain outstanding.",[678],{"type":608,"attrs":679},{"color":610},{"type":681,"attrs":682},"blok",{"id":683,"body":684},"cfa61e39-c655-46e3-a1bb-c7b30778eeb1",[685],{"id":686,"_uid":687,"type":688,"component":689,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"29556778","i-540a3f80-a0b5-4e0d-b15c-dd56b18c9bd2","visualisation","ContentFlourish",{"type":691,"attrs":692,"content":694},"heading",{"level":693,"textAlign":49},2,[695],{"text":696,"type":605,"marks":697},"What impact will this have on the lithium market?",[698],{"type":608,"attrs":699},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":701,"content":702},{"textAlign":49},[703,708,717],{"text":704,"type":605,"marks":705},"The restart could provide some relief to the ",[706],{"type":608,"attrs":707},{"color":610},{"text":709,"type":605,"marks":710},"near term lithium market deficit",[711,715],{"type":615,"attrs":712},{"href":713,"uuid":714,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/restart-of-catls-jianxiawo-lithium-mine-may-be-delayed-tightening-balance","e310a60b-1914-4b56-b78d-8646c714f378",{"type":608,"attrs":716},{"color":610},{"text":718,"type":605,"marks":719}," forecast to be around 2.9% of demand in 2026. Without production from Jianxiawo, this deficit could be as much as 4% of demand.",[720],{"type":608,"attrs":721},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":723,"content":724},{"textAlign":49},[725,730,739],{"text":726,"type":605,"marks":727},"Although a deficit is forecast for this year, Benchmark is anticipating a 91kt surplus in 2027 (4.4% of demand) with ",[728],{"type":608,"attrs":729},{"color":610},{"text":731,"type":605,"marks":732},"prices expected to fall",[733,737],{"type":615,"attrs":734},{"href":735,"uuid":736,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/why-are-lithium-prices-expected-to-decline-in-2027-","03f0f24b-0a8e-4114-bc7f-28fcad4b081f",{"type":608,"attrs":738},{"color":610},{"text":740,"type":605,"marks":741},". Benchmark forecasts Jianxiawo to produce ~99kt tonnes LCE next year, highlighting just how tight the supply balance is.",[742],{"type":608,"attrs":743},{"color":610},{"type":691,"attrs":745,"content":746},{"level":693,"textAlign":49},[747],{"text":748,"type":605,"marks":749},"How could this impact lithium prices?",[750],{"type":608,"attrs":751},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":753,"content":754},{"textAlign":49},[755],{"text":756,"type":605,"marks":757},"Benchmark’s EXW China daily lithium carbonate price index fell sharply by 2.4% and then 1.5% day-on-day on 25 and 26 June as rumours regarding the licence approval circulated domestically. The official licence confirming the speculation was seen by Benchmark on 1 July, by which time the market had already priced in the news.",[758],{"type":608,"attrs":759},{"color":610},{"type":681,"attrs":761},{"id":683,"body":762},[763],{"id":764,"_uid":765,"type":688,"component":689,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"29559820","i-49249256-18c8-40a3-8b46-da06843c3f54",{"type":600,"attrs":767,"content":768},{"textAlign":49},[769,774,783],{"text":770,"type":605,"marks":771},"By 30 June and 1 July, prices were already rebounding, driven by opportunistic purchasing and accelerated by renewed concerns regarding tightening feedstock supply. ",[772],{"type":608,"attrs":773},{"color":610},{"text":775,"type":605,"marks":776},"Zimbabwe’s export suspension",[777,781],{"type":615,"attrs":778},{"href":779,"uuid":780,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/zimbabwe-to-lift-lithium-concentrate-export-ban-with-stringent-conditions","3a50839c-53d8-42db-ba04-0293c9018f48",{"type":608,"attrs":782},{"color":610},{"text":784,"type":605,"marks":785}," earlier in the year is having a delayed effect on spodumene concentrate availability with some hard rock converters in China forced to taper utilisation rates or even halt production entirely in response. A tightening chemicals picture, with Sinomine’s Jiangxi subsidiary halting production for maintenance, citing force majeure due to a lack of feedstock, has also helped to cushion the spot price.",[786],{"type":608,"attrs":787},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":789,"content":790},{"textAlign":49},[791,796,805],{"text":792,"type":605,"marks":793},"“Supply and demand developments like these tend to affect market sentiment and liquid spot prices in China immediately, ahead of the balance actually swinging,” said ",[794],{"type":608,"attrs":795},{"color":610},{"text":797,"type":605,"marks":798},"Adam Megginson",[799,803],{"type":615,"attrs":800},{"href":801,"uuid":802,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/videos/quantifying-lithium-price-risk-what-benchmark-s-forward-curve-tells-us-about-h2-2026","8fad506c-2be5-4d14-b15e-dd573faff10c",{"type":608,"attrs":804},{"color":610},{"text":806,"type":605,"marks":807},", principal lithium price analyst at Benchmark. “Subsequently, when anticipated capacity actually hits the market and moves fundamentals, there is often a fresh reaction in the traded price level.”",[808],{"type":608,"attrs":809},{"color":610},"CATL can likely restart its Jianxiawo lepidolite lithium mine in Jiangxi, China after securing a safety production permit.\nBenchmark has seen a copy of the permit certificate, which was considered the last official hurdle CATL needed to overcome to resume production at the mine which has been idle since August 2025.\nBenchmark’s Q2 Lithium Forecast anticipates 37kt lithium carbonate equivalent to be mined from Jianxiawo in 2026 assuming a September restart, accounting for ~1.5% of global mined lithium supply. This production figure could increase if the mine is restarted earlier than expected, something that is increasingly likely given the rapid pace of approvals in the past week. The mine is anticipated to operate at its planned capacity of 150ktpa by 2029.",[812,815],{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":813},{"job_title":557,"image":814,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":8},{"filename":552},{"slug":816,"name":797,"content":817},"adam-megginson",{"job_title":818,"image":819,"bio":821,"linkedin":822,"markets_covered":823},"Principal Analyst",{"filename":820},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/f25205e28d/adam-megginson.jpeg","Adam is a Principal Analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence and is responsible for the lithium, graphite, synthetic graphite and anode price assessments. Adam is in constant communication with buyers, sellers, traders and distributors to collect first-hand price data and insights which are published in Benchmark's price assessments. He has presented battery supply chain analysis to executives and senators in the UK, US, France, Morocco, Germany and Japan. Before joining Benchmark, Adam worked at an energy transition impact investment company. There he focussed on distributing LPG smartmeters for cooking in Kenya and Tanzania. Adam graduated with a First Class Honours BSc in International Management from Warwick Business School..","https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-megginson/","Lithium,natural graphite, synthetic graphite, anode","article",[826,828,831],{"slug":827,"name":8},"lithium",{"slug":829,"name":830},"critical-minerals","Critical Minerals",{"slug":832,"name":833},"raw-materials","Raw Materials","private",{"id":836,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":837,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":838,"is_external_url":50},194055055116762,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/1588x1484/96f3483837/jianxiawo-is-highly-likely-to-resume-production-soon-following-safety-production-permit-2x-2.png",{},{"id":840,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":841,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":842,"is_external_url":50},129066151888955,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/4280a70002/bm-catl-headquarters-3.jpg",{},"CATL can likely restart its Jianxiawo lepidolite lithium mine in Jiangxi, China after securing a safety production permit.","Jul 01, 2026",{"id":846,"uuid":847,"name":848,"slug":849,"full_slug":850,"content":851},191244801048632,"cf768bdc-8a11-4a1e-9d47-20c80f2aff45","What does the Jinzifeng–Huashan merger mean for Jiangxi’s lithium supply? ","what-does-the-jinzifeng-huashan-merger-mean-for-jiangxi-s-lithium-supply-","article/what-does-the-jinzifeng-huashan-merger-mean-for-jiangxi-s-lithium-supply-",{"_uid":852,"date":853,"tags":854,"editor":857,"content":861,"excerpt":1006,"featured":51,"reporter":1007,"component":824,"seo_title":1020,"categories":1021,"visibility":834,"data_vis_image":1025,"featured_image":1027,"seo_description":1031,"formattedDate":1032},"16a8cf38-4781-4be4-9db2-d7a446534cf4","2026-06-25 00:00",[855,856],{"slug":578,"name":579},{"slug":575,"name":576},[858],{"slug":588,"name":589,"content":859},{"job_title":591,"image":860,"bio":594,"linkedin":595},{"filename":593},{"type":597,"content":862},[863,884,892,900,907,915,975,985,993,1001],{"type":600,"attrs":864,"content":865},{"textAlign":49},[866,871,879],{"text":867,"type":605,"marks":868},"Yongxing and Canmax have announced plans to merge two adjacent lepidolite mines in ",[869],{"type":608,"attrs":870},{"color":610},{"text":576,"type":605,"marks":872},[873,877],{"type":615,"attrs":874},{"href":875,"uuid":876,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/rangebound-prices-ahead-as-jiangxi-permits-set-floor-and-ceiling","96bc7dd9-37df-4c3e-b848-2721361922c6",{"type":608,"attrs":878},{"color":610},{"text":880,"type":605,"marks":881},", China's largest lithium-mica hub, in a deal Benchmark expects to delay fresh lithium supply in the near term even as it unlocks substantial output over the longer term.",[882],{"type":608,"attrs":883},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":885,"content":886},{"textAlign":49},[887],{"text":888,"type":605,"marks":889},"Under the deal, Canmax subsidiary Yichun Shengyuan Lithium will inject its Jinzifeng mine, valued at RMB 2.7 billion (~$396 million), into Yongxing's Huaqiao Mining in exchange for a 50% stake, with both parties then applying for a single unified mining right designed for 18 million tonnes of ore per year.",[890],{"type":608,"attrs":891},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":893,"content":894},{"textAlign":49},[895],{"text":896,"type":605,"marks":897},"The combination pairs Jinzifeng's vast, low-grade resource (5.5 billion tonnes of geological reserves at 0.31% Li₂O, of which 1.8 billion tonnes are recoverable) with Huaqiao’s higher-grade Huashan mine (492 million tonnes at 0.39% Li₂O). Both hold statutory capacity of nine million tonnes per year.",[898],{"type":608,"attrs":899},{"color":610},{"type":681,"attrs":901},{"id":902,"body":903},"8f88e146-1acd-4328-a6e7-98020f2d901e",[904],{"id":905,"_uid":906,"type":688,"component":689,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"29487638","i-ae5102ea-c983-44f9-b731-627ccd4c5820",{"type":600,"attrs":908,"content":909},{"textAlign":49},[910],{"text":911,"type":605,"marks":912},"The deal lands amid China's tightening of lithium mining oversight. Amendments to the Mineral Resources Law adopted in late 2024 gave regulators enforcement powers beyond advisory inspections, and a State Council Action Plan for Comprehensive Solid Waste Management tightened tailings, reclamation and processing-approval standards.",[913],{"type":608,"attrs":914},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":916,"content":917},{"textAlign":49},[918,923,932,937,946,951,958,963,970],{"text":919,"type":605,"marks":920},"It is a campaign ",[921],{"type":608,"attrs":922},{"color":610},{"text":924,"type":605,"marks":925},"Benchmark has tracked",[926,930],{"type":615,"attrs":927},{"href":928,"uuid":929,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/q3-lithium-preview-jiangxi-enforcement-shows-teeth-lifting-price-floor","0b10bf7e-4b8d-4f9a-9d9c-46a9945d2feb",{"type":608,"attrs":931},{"color":610},{"text":933,"type":605,"marks":934}," through permit issues at ",[935],{"type":608,"attrs":936},{"color":610},{"text":938,"type":605,"marks":939},"eight Yichun mines",[940,944],{"type":615,"attrs":941},{"href":942,"uuid":943,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/eight-lithium-mines-in-yichun-jiangxi-found-to-have-permit-issues","1e7ad44a-3297-461c-8920-a0a00c5a585c",{"type":608,"attrs":945},{"color":610},{"text":947,"type":605,"marks":948},", CATL's ",[949],{"type":608,"attrs":950},{"color":610},{"text":952,"type":605,"marks":953},"Jianxiawo suspension",[954,956],{"type":615,"attrs":955},{"href":641,"uuid":642,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},{"type":608,"attrs":957},{"color":610},{"text":959,"type":605,"marks":960}," and the ",[961],{"type":608,"attrs":962},{"color":610},{"text":964,"type":605,"marks":965},"Jiangxi licence cancellations",[966,968],{"type":615,"attrs":967},{"href":617,"uuid":618,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},{"type":608,"attrs":969},{"color":610},{"text":971,"type":605,"marks":972},". Per the companies' announcements, the two mines were each was licensed under ceramic-clay or porcelain categories and has been required to renew with a lithium licence, with Huashan's still pending.",[973],{"type":608,"attrs":974},{"color":610},{"type":691,"attrs":976,"content":977},{"level":693,"textAlign":49},[978],{"text":979,"type":605,"marks":980},"What does it mean for supply?",[981,983],{"type":608,"attrs":982},{"color":610},{"type":984},"bold",{"type":600,"attrs":986,"content":987},{"textAlign":49},[988],{"text":989,"type":605,"marks":990},"The near-term effect is to defer supply the market had been counting on, not to cut current output. Huashan already runs at a capacity of just three million tonnes of ore per year, a third of its approved nine million tonnes of ore per year, held back by an unfinished safety production permit and a pending lithium licence renewal; folding it into a merger and reclassification review pushes that ramp-up further out and pauses Jinzifeng's launch while integration completes.",[991],{"type":608,"attrs":992},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":994,"content":995},{"textAlign":49},[996],{"text":997,"type":605,"marks":998},"Longer term, Benchmark views the deal as supply-additive. Removing the safety buffer zone between the two pits frees boundary ore that was previously unmineable, supporting steady output growth and \"substantial supply increments\" once approvals clear. But that hinges on a lengthy multi-agency review of the merger and lithium reclassification, and a rejection would scrap the plan entirely.",[999],{"type":608,"attrs":1000},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1002,"content":1003},{"textAlign":49},[1004],{"type":1005},"hard_break","Yongxing and Canmax have announced plans to merge two adjacent lepidolite mines in Jiangxi, China's largest lithium-mica hub, in a deal Benchmark expects to delay fresh lithium supply in the near term even as it unlocks substantial output over the longer term.\n\nUnder the deal, Canmax subsidiary Yichun Shengyuan Lithium will inject its Jinzifeng mine, valued at RMB 2.7 billion (~$396 million), into Yongxing's Huaqiao Mining in exchange for a 50% stake, with both parties then applying for a single unified mining right designed for 18 million tonnes of ore per year.",[1008,1017],{"slug":1009,"name":1010,"content":1011},"cameron-perks","Cameron Perks",{"job_title":1012,"image":1013,"bio":1015,"linkedin":1016,"markets_covered":8},"Product Director - Lithium",{"filename":1014},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/5504398139/cam-perks.png","Dr Cameron Perks is a leading global lithium expert and currently serves as Product Director for Lithium at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. With over a decade of experience in opaque mineral markets, he has led market strategy, pricing analysis, and bespoke consulting for clients ranging from junior explorers to OEMs and institutional investors. He was previously a consultant at TZMI, a geologist with the Geological Survey of NSW, and holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronperks/",{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":1018},{"job_title":557,"image":1019,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":8},{"filename":552},"What does Jinzifeng–Huashan merger mean Jiangxi lithium supply?",[1022,1023,1024],{"slug":829,"name":830},{"slug":832,"name":833},{"slug":827,"name":8},{"id":49,"alt":49,"name":547,"focus":49,"title":49,"source":49,"filename":547,"copyright":49,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1026},{},{"id":1028,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1029,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1030,"is_external_url":50},191255378945076,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/5616x3744/e7f5d9dd43/lepidolite-lithium-mica.jpeg",{},"Yongxing and Canmax have announced plans to merge two adjacent lepidolite mines in Jiangxi, China's largest lithium-mica hub, in a deal Benchmark expects to delay fresh lithium supply in the near term even as it unlocks substantial output longer term.","Jun 25, 2026",{"id":1034,"uuid":780,"name":1035,"slug":1036,"full_slug":1037,"content":1038},163681851563381,"Zimbabwe to lift lithium concentrate export ban with stringent conditions","zimbabwe-to-lift-lithium-concentrate-export-ban-with-stringent-conditions","article/zimbabwe-to-lift-lithium-concentrate-export-ban-with-stringent-conditions",{"_uid":1039,"date":1040,"tags":1041,"editor":1051,"content":1061,"excerpt":1283,"featured":51,"reporter":1284,"component":824,"seo_title":1300,"categories":1301,"visibility":834,"data_vis_image":1304,"featured_image":1306,"seo_description":1310,"formattedDate":1311},"b9a756c4-c5cf-4200-a544-31bb0c986047","2026-04-08 00:00",[1042,1045,1048],{"slug":1043,"name":1044},"zimbabwe","Zimbabwe",{"slug":1046,"name":1047},"africa","Africa",{"slug":1049,"name":1050},"export-restrictions","Export restrictions",[1052],{"slug":1053,"name":1054,"content":1055},"benjamin-roche","Benjamin Roche",{"job_title":1056,"image":1057,"bio":1059,"linkedin":1060},"Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains",{"filename":1058},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/800x800/66d6674fb8/benjamin-roche.png","Benjamin is Benchmark's Editor for Energy Transition Supply Chains, covering both upstream products like critical minerals and downstream products including energy storage systems and electric vehicles. He has previous experience covering trade flows, tariffs and the effects of geopolitics on supply chains.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminrochecontent/",{"type":597,"content":1062},[1063,1085,1093,1101,1108,1117,1125,1133,1155,1163,1171,1179,1187,1195,1204,1235,1269,1275],{"type":600,"attrs":1064,"content":1065},{"textAlign":49},[1066,1071,1080],{"text":1067,"type":605,"marks":1068},"On 2nd April, Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines and Mining Development outlined the prerequisite conditions for lifting the country's ",[1069],{"type":608,"attrs":1070},{"color":610},{"text":1072,"type":605,"marks":1073},"ban on lithium concentrate exports",[1074,1078],{"type":615,"attrs":1075},{"href":1076,"uuid":1077,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/zimbabwe-suspends-lithium-concentrate-exports","604f5243-5659-4cc3-bbe4-a982e1bb429e",{"type":608,"attrs":1079},{"color":610},{"text":1081,"type":605,"marks":1082},", signalling a potential thaw in the export suspension imposed in February 2026. The move reflects the government's intent to unlock value from the sector while enforcing strict domestic beneficiation requirements and operational standards.",[1083],{"type":608,"attrs":1084},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1086,"content":1087},{"textAlign":49},[1088],{"text":1089,"type":605,"marks":1090},"The conditions, detailed in a letter to the Chamber of Mines, represent a high bar for operators and reveal significant friction points between Zimbabwe's policy ambitions and the economics facing miners and converters.",[1091],{"type":608,"attrs":1092},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1094,"content":1095},{"textAlign":49},[1096],{"text":1097,"type":605,"marks":1098},"Additionally, the letter notes that future investments in the lithium sector will have conditions applied on a case-by-case basis.",[1099],{"type":608,"attrs":1100},{"color":610},{"type":681,"attrs":1102},{"id":1103,"body":1104},"861211f7-2b3e-4f20-b4e3-a42eee8b191e",[1105],{"id":1106,"_uid":1107,"type":688,"component":689,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"28420451","i-48361e33-ccf5-4216-9662-2ad7de27ce0d",{"type":691,"attrs":1109,"content":1110},{"level":693,"textAlign":49},[1111],{"text":1112,"type":605,"marks":1113},"The sulphate bottleneck",[1114,1116],{"type":608,"attrs":1115},{"color":610},{"type":984},{"type":600,"attrs":1118,"content":1119},{"textAlign":49},[1120],{"text":1121,"type":605,"marks":1122},"The most consequential condition is the January 2027 deadline for sulphate plant establishment. This sits at the heart of Zimbabwe's value-chain capture strategy, yet creates substantial operational and financial friction.",[1123],{"type":608,"attrs":1124},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1126,"content":1127},{"textAlign":49},[1128],{"text":1129,"type":605,"marks":1130},"Three plants with combined capacity of approximately 185kt lithium sulphate (equivalent to ~107 kt LCE) are currently under construction or in planning across the country. Huayou's Arcadia plant began limited production in December 2025; Bikita and Kamativi projects remain in earlier stages. Meeting a January 2027 commissioning deadline will be difficult, if not impossible. Through 2027 and 2028, sulphate production is expected to consume around 20% of mined supply. ",[1131],{"type":608,"attrs":1132},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1134,"content":1135},{"textAlign":49},[1136,1141,1150],{"text":1137,"type":605,"marks":1138},"Given the planned ",[1139],{"type":608,"attrs":1140},{"color":610},{"text":1142,"type":605,"marks":1143},"spodumene concentrate export ban taking effect in 2027",[1144,1148],{"type":615,"attrs":1145},{"href":1146,"uuid":1147,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/zimbabwe-to-ban-lithium-concentrate-exports-from-2027","2cb67dd2-7bf1-4398-bff8-512fa146020d",{"type":608,"attrs":1149},{"color":610},{"text":1151,"type":605,"marks":1152},", further negotiations between the government and miners participants will be necessary to strike a balance between government objectives and practical implementability. ",[1153],{"type":608,"attrs":1154},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1156,"content":1157},{"textAlign":49},[1158],{"text":1159,"type":605,"marks":1160},"\"Although negotiations are progressing relatively smoothly so far, We expect some tension between the government and companies to persist,\" said Zoey Zuo, a senior lithium analyst at Benchmark. \"Therefore, even if some consensus is reached in the short term, risk of future disruption is not eliminated entirely.\"",[1161],{"type":608,"attrs":1162},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1164,"content":1165},{"textAlign":49},[1166],{"text":1167,"type":605,"marks":1168},"Friction points remain somewhat fundamental – miners do not see favourable economics in establishing sulphate plants, at least not for their higher grade spodumene concentrates. Reagent logistics and power costs and reliability are the main limiting factors.",[1169],{"type":608,"attrs":1170},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1172,"content":1173},{"textAlign":49},[1174],{"text":1175,"type":605,"marks":1176},"Plans to forgo beneficiation of lower-grade petalite ore and to convert it directly into lithium sulphate could, on the other hand, positively impact margins. However, this option is not viewed as favourable by the Zimbabwean government on account of lowered tax revenues on a relatively lower grade sulphate product compared to concentrate-derived material.",[1177],{"type":608,"attrs":1178},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1180,"content":1181},{"textAlign":49},[1182],{"text":1183,"type":605,"marks":1184},"Uncertainty also remains around the specifics of the quota system, whether this would be a longer-term arrangement such as seen in Indonesia’s RKAB ore quota system, or whether export quotas might be a measure linked to miners’ progress on sulphate capacity. ",[1185],{"type":608,"attrs":1186},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1188,"content":1189},{"textAlign":49},[1190],{"text":1191,"type":605,"marks":1192},"Clarity on what the export ban would mean for small-scale miners and new major green- and brownfield expansions is also lacking. To what extent, and on what terms, would new producers be required or allowed to engage existing sulphate plants to convert concentrates is also unclear. Such a system could create complex dynamics; converters face squeezed economics; miners encounter rising processing costs; idle petalite capacity cannot easily be monetised if sulphate plants cannot absorb it; greenfield developers, already managing reduced margins on quota-constrained volumes, face further pressure.",[1193],{"type":608,"attrs":1194},{"color":610},{"type":691,"attrs":1196,"content":1197},{"level":693,"textAlign":49},[1198],{"text":1199,"type":605,"marks":1200},"Global context and market impact",[1201,1203],{"type":608,"attrs":1202},{"color":610},{"type":984},{"type":600,"attrs":1205,"content":1206},{"textAlign":49},[1207,1216,1221,1230],{"text":1208,"type":605,"marks":1209},"Zimbabwe accounts",[1210,1214],{"type":615,"attrs":1211},{"href":1212,"uuid":1213,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/zimbabwe-africas-lithium-heartland","55306705-148d-46f7-ab80-27437cd2ac45",{"type":608,"attrs":1215},{"color":610},{"text":1217,"type":605,"marks":1218}," for a significant portion of emerging ",[1219],{"type":608,"attrs":1220},{"color":610},{"text":1222,"type":605,"marks":1223},"African lithium supply",[1224,1228],{"type":615,"attrs":1225},{"href":1226,"uuid":1227,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/africa-sees-largest-lithium-supply-growth-of-any-region-in-2025","d23cb2d3-7543-4bd4-b9a8-4bd5592bad0a",{"type":608,"attrs":1229},{"color":610},{"text":1231,"type":605,"marks":1232},". The conditional lifting of lithium export restrictions, sit within broader efforts on the continent to capture downstream value.",[1233],{"type":608,"attrs":1234},{"color":610},{"type":600,"attrs":1236,"content":1237},{"textAlign":49},[1238,1243,1252,1257,1264],{"text":1239,"type":605,"marks":1240},"Aggressive signalling, supply disruptions, and delays could have asymmetric impacts on ",[1241],{"type":608,"attrs":1242},{"color":610},{"text":1244,"type":605,"marks":1245},"spot-pricing",[1246,1250],{"type":615,"attrs":1247},{"href":1248,"uuid":1249,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/deja-vu-in-battery-raw-materials-is-the-2021-playbook-repeating-","d935e80b-5abf-484c-a751-e698ccaf6e18",{"type":608,"attrs":1251},{"color":610},{"text":1253,"type":605,"marks":1254}," and short-term decision-making in a market in a market burned by ",[1255],{"type":608,"attrs":1256},{"color":610},{"text":1258,"type":605,"marks":1259},"erroneous expectations of Jiangxi disruption timelines",[1260,1262],{"type":615,"attrs":1261},{"href":713,"uuid":714,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},{"type":608,"attrs":1263},{"color":610},{"text":1265,"type":605,"marks":1266}," in 2025, the tight lithium market balance, and long lead times for Zimbabwean material.",[1267],{"type":608,"attrs":1268},{"color":610},{"type":681,"attrs":1270},{"id":1103,"body":1271},[1272],{"id":1273,"_uid":1274,"type":688,"component":689,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"28420017","i-3944c19f-0b39-4fbe-a013-cdb3f4487a59",{"type":600,"attrs":1276,"content":1277},{"textAlign":49},[1278],{"text":1279,"type":605,"marks":1280},"The conditions framework also signals Zimbabwe's willingness to use export controls as leverage for industrial development, a precedent with implications for investor confidence and capital allocation into Zimbabwe and other countries eyeing local value-add policies.",[1281],{"type":608,"attrs":1282},{"color":610},"On 2nd April, Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines and Mining Development outlined the prerequisite conditions for lifting the country's ban on lithium concentrate exports, signalling a potential thaw in the export suspension imposed in February 2026. The move reflects the government's intent to unlock value from the sector while enforcing strict domestic beneficiation requirements and operational standards.\n\nThe conditions, detailed in a letter to the Chamber of Mines, represent a high bar for operators and reveal significant friction points between Zimbabwe's policy ambitions and the economics facing miners and converters.",[1285,1288,1291],{"slug":1009,"name":1010,"content":1286},{"job_title":1012,"image":1287,"bio":1015,"linkedin":1016,"markets_covered":8},{"filename":1014},{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":1289},{"job_title":557,"image":1290,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":8},{"filename":552},{"slug":1292,"name":1293,"content":1294},"luc-braun","Luc Braun",{"job_title":1295,"image":1296,"bio":1298,"linkedin":1299,"markets_covered":8},"Analyst - Lithium",{"filename":1297},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/6f1a6949aa/luc-braun.jpeg","Luc is an analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence focused on lithium supply, costs, and supply chains. Luc has a background in market analysis and research from previous roles where he covered nickel, deep seabed mining, and telecommunications. Luc holds an MPhys in Theoretical Physics from the University of Leeds.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucbraun/","Zimbabwe to lift lithium concentrate export ban with conditions",[1302,1303],{"slug":827,"name":8},{"slug":829,"name":830},{"id":49,"alt":49,"name":547,"focus":49,"title":49,"source":49,"filename":547,"copyright":49,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1305},{},{"id":1307,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1308,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1309,"is_external_url":50},129065092576793,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/554e369eb1/bm-arcadia-mine-zimbabwe.jpg",{},"On 2nd April, Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines and Mining Development outlined the prerequisite conditions for lifting the country's ban on lithium concentrate exports, signalling a potential thaw in the export suspension imposed in February 2026.","Apr 08, 2026",1786958961119]