Lithium mining in Africa is gaining attention due to global demand for its key ingredient in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage.
Here is a list of some notable lithium mines in Africa:
Arcadia Lithium Project, Zimbabwe
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The Arcadia open-pit Lithium Project, located 38 kilometers east of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, is considered one of the world’s largest hard rock lithium resources.
The project, owned by mining company Zhejian Huayou Cobalt, has measured lithium reserves of 42.3 million tonnes.
The Chinese group plans to invest about $300 million in the project to develop the lithium mine and reprocessing plant, aiming to produce 4.5 million tons of ore and 50,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent, respectively.
Bikita Minerals, Zimbabwe
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The Bikita mine it is ranked as the largest lithium mine in Zimbabwe. The privately owned mine located in southern Zimbabwe in the Masvingo province has the largest known lithium deposit in the world at approximately 11 million metric tonnes.
The mine contains 10.8 million metric tons of lithium ore, grading 1.4%, yielding 0.15 million metric tons of lithium. It has produced a significant source of lithium minerals, including spodumene.
Sinomine Resource Group bought the mine for $200 million in 2022.
Manono Lithium Project, PRC
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The Manono-Kitolo minea former tin and coltan mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, holds one of the world’s largest lithium reserves.
The Manono-Kitolo mine in Tanganyika Province, southern Democratic Republic of Congo, contains 120 million metric tons of lithium ore, grading 0.6%, yielding 0.72 million metric tons of lithium.
AVZ Minerals Limited and La Congolaise d’Exploitation Minière SA own the Manono Project, with AVZ responsible for financing the feasibility study and mining decision.
Manono Tailings Project, DRC
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Manono Tailings located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the project has a first mineral resource estimate of 5.46 million tonnes of Li2O at a grade of 0.72%.
The tailings are a legacy of historic tin mining in the area.
The project will include 11 technological fields and is set to bring an initial production of 100,000 tonnes per year of condensate to the international market by 2025.
Blesberg Lithium Project, South Africa
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The Blesberg projectlocated in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, hosts a significant amount of lithium, ranging between 250,000 and 400,000 tonnes.
It is one of the largest known economically mined pegmatite deposits and has historically been the largest single source of tantalum in South Africa.
Marula Mining, a mining and exploration investment company, has successfully facilitated its first shipment of lithium ore in January 2023 through a $5 million lithium repayment facility.
Goulamina Lithium Project, Mali
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During his lifetime of 21 years, the Goulamina lithium project projected to produce 142.3 million tonnes of 1.38% grade lithium oxide.
Located about 150 kilometers from Mali’s capital Bamako, the project is being developed and operated through a joint venture between mining companies Leo Lithium and Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium.
The project, which aims to produce spodumene concentrate in the first half of 2024, is expected to have a total capital cost of more than $320 million.
Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project, Zimbabwe
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The Zulu lithium and tantalum workZimbabwe’s largest undeveloped lithium-bearing area, will consist of 14 mineral claims covering an area of ​​3.5 km2, which are prospective for lithium and tantalum mineralization.
Owned by Africa-focused strategic metals and minerals developer Premier African Minerals, the project will explore a lithium carbonate equivalent resource of 526,000 tonnes, grading 1.06% Li2O.
The mine is set to develop a 50,000-ton-a-year pilot plant by the $35 million research and development company Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean Technology.
Ewoyaa Lithium Project, Ghana
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The Ewoyaa Lithium Project Developed at Atlantic Lithium is expected to become Ghana’s first lithium mine and is expected to yield 35.3 million tonnes of lithium, grading 1.25% Li2O.
With production scheduled to begin by the end of 2024, the project is being developed by lithium-focused exploration and development company Atlantic Lithium and is set to have a life of 12.5 years.
With an initial capital investment of $125 million, the project will use conventional open pit mining methods in 14 individual pits in five mining areas, involving drilling, blasting, loading and hauling operations.
RELATED:
Atlantic Lithium Expands Drilling Program at Ewoyaa, Eyes Resource Growth
Ganfeng Lithium, PRC
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Ganfeng Lithium Co.Ltd., founded in 2000 by Li Liangbin and Li Huabiao in Xinyu City, Jiangxi, is a leading global producer of lithium, lithium products and batteries. As the largest producer of lithium salt in China and the third largest worldwide, it also ranks second in the world (after Chile’s Sociedad QuÃmica y Minera).
As of 2021, its lithium salt production capacity was estimated at 120,000 tons per year. In 2019, it was the world’s largest pure lithium producer. Ganfeng produced 24% of the world’s lithium hydroxide in 2020, making it the world’s third largest lithium producer.
Karibib Lithium Project, Namibia
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The Karibib lithium project, estimated to produce 773,000 tonnes over 14 years, will transport lithium concentrate to a chemical plant in the United Arab Emirates with a production capacity of 56,700 tonnes per year.
The Karibib project is owned and operated by Lepidico, an integrated lithium development company.