12 lithium mine projects in Africa

I.Summary of Lithium Mine Production Capacity in Africa

Currently, the lithium mine projects in Africa include Arcadia, Bikita, Sabi Star, Kamativi, Zulu, Goulamina, Bougouni, and Blesberg, with a total production capacity of 2.436 million tonnes of lithium concentrate, including projects' production still ramping up.

In 2025, projects including Kamativi Phase II, Bougouni, and Blesberg have put in operation, while Ewoyaa and Karibib are expected to begin production within the year. This is projected to add 730,000 tonnes of capacity compared to 2024. However, the actual progress of lithium mine project commissioning in Africa often falls short of expectations due to factors such as poor infrastructure and policy uncertainties.

II. Project Introduction

Arcadia-Huayou Cobalt

The Arcadia Lithium Project is located in Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe, approximately 38 kilometers from the capital Harare, and is one of the region's earliest discovered large-scale lithium ores. The project was initially operated by Prospect Resources, an Australian-listed company through its subsidiary, Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd (Singapore). The project covers an area of over 14 square kilometers, and Huayou Cobalt held  90% shares of the mine. In 2019, Prospect Resources released the first feasibility study for Arcadia and it also operated in small-scale in late 2020, along with trial production.

According to Huayou Cobalt's announcement in March 2023, the project has completed equipment installation and commissioning. The 4.5 million-tonne-per-year ore processing line is now fully operational, with successful trial production yielding the first batch of lithium concentrate. After reaching full capacity, the project is expected to produce 400,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate annually, 230,000 tonnes of petalite concentrate and 297,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate, equivalent to 50,000 tonnes of LCE, sufficient to supply Huayou's 50,000-tonne lithium salt processing plant in Guangxi Production. As of February 6, the Arcadia project is in the production ramp-up phase. A large quantity of lithium concentrate has already been shipped to China, ensuring 100% self-sufficiency and substantial lithium salt production.

Bikita-Sinomine Resource Group

The Bikita Mine is located in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe, and has a 100-year mining history dating back to 1911. And it began to produce petalite concentrate from the 1950s. In 1959, Selection Trust acquired and consolidated the Bikita and Al Hayat mines, establishing Bikita Minerals. Since then, it has been Africa's only operating lithium mine, primarily supplying lithium for the glass and ceramics industries. In 2022, Sinomine Resource Group acquired the Bikita Mine and invested in two major projects, Bikita 2M-tonne/year Spodumene Project and Bikita 2M-tonne/year Petalite Expansion & Upgrade Project.

Both projects were completed in July 2023, achieving stable production by November 9, 2023. The mine is now expected to produce 300,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate (5.5% Li2O grade) and 300,000 tonnes of chemical-grade petalite concentrate (4% Li2O grade) annually. In 2023, Bikita produced 250,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate, with multiple shipments already delivered to China, with a spodumene concentrate grade of 5.5%, and that of petalite concentrate grade 4%.

In June 2024, the company disclosed that Zimbabwe and Canada had a total of 4.18 million tonnes of mineral processing capacity and 66,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium salt production capacity per year, both of which have achieved stable production. It is expected to complete the integrated layout of 30,000 tonnes/year of mining, beneficiation, and metallurgy in Africa by 2026.

Sabi Star-Chengxin Lithium

The Sabi Star Lithium-Tantalum Project is located in the Sabi Star mining area, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe. In 2021, Chengxin Lithium acquired a 51% stake in Max Mind Hong Kong from individual shareholder LIU JUN, thereby gaining indirect control over its Zimbabwean subsidiary and the Sabi Star Lithium-Tantalum Project. It can produce 200,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate per year, equivalent to l25,000 tonnes LCE. And now it can  finish the production ramp-up, operating at full capacity.

Exploration in the surrounding area is still ongoing, and it is expected that the resource reserves will increase. The mine began production in May 2023, with an annual ore processing capacity of 900,000 tonnes, yielding 200,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate. Sabi Star holds mining rights for 40 rare metal blocks, with 35 still under exploration-indicating significant potential for resource expansion.

Kamativi-Yahua Group

The Kamativi Mine is located in Matabeleland North Province, western Zimbabwe, covering a mining area of approximately 44.6 square kilometers. Historical data indicates the presence of six ore bodies, with No. 4 Vein being the largest, extending 2,344 meters in length, making it the primary ore body of this large-scale integrated mining and processing operation.

The Kamativi Project is a joint investment between Yahua Lithium and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC). In June 2020, KMC acquired the mining license for the Kamativi, securing 100% ownership of the lithium-tin-tantalum-niobium-beryllium pegmatite deposit. In July 2022, Yahua Group acquired a 70.59% stake in Proud Technology through its wholly-owned subsidiary Xingsheng Lithium, thereby indirectly holding 60% of KMC.

The project began resource exploration and feasibility testing research in September 2022, and was divided into two phases. The first phase was put into operation on April 12, 2024, and the second phase was on November 14, 2024. The first phase of the project processes 300,000 tonnes of lithium ore annually, while the second phase processes approximately 2 million tonnes of lithium ore annually. The first and second phases of the Kamativi project can achieve an annual processing capacity of 2.3 million tonnes of lithium ore and an annual output of 350,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate.

In addition, Yahua Group plans to further expand production, targeting 3.3 million tonnes of lithium ore processed per year in 2025, yielding 500,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate.This expansion will increase Yahua's lithium concentrate self-sufficiency rate to 60%.

Zulu-Premier African Minerals / Tianqi Lithium Energy Technology

The Zulu Lithium-Tantalum Project is located in southwestern Zimbabwe and is one of Africa's largest undeveloped hard-rock lithium deposits, with substantial spodumene resources. The project includes 14 mining claims across an area of 3.5 square kilometers. The Zulu mine project was controlled by Premier African Minerals in 2010. In March 2022, Suzhou Tianhua New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. acquired a 13.38% stake in the project, becoming Premier's largest shareholder. It also secured offtake rights for 50% of Premier's future lithium concentrate production.

The project is currently in the commissioning and optimization phase, aiming to produce and export spodumene concentrate in 2024. And Zulu project plans to produce 84,000 tons of lithium concentrate per year, with current pilot production capacity around 50,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate annually.

In May 2023, Premier delayed its first scheduled shipment to Tianhua. On June 28, 2023, Tianhua terminated the prepayment agreement but later revised and reinstated the offtake deal in July 2023, restoring cooperation. Under the revised agreement, Tianhua retains the right to purchase at least 4,000 tonnes per month from the Zulu in three years starting from the first shipment.

Manono-AVZ Minerals

The Manono Lithium Project is located near the town of Manono, approximately 500 km north of Lubumbashi, the capital of Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The mining area covers 188 square kilometers.

The Manono Mine was historically exploited for tin ore between 1919 and 1982. From 1960 onwards, only limited exploration was conducted on old ore dumps to assess cassiterite (tin) and spodumene (lithium) grades, until AVZ Minerals Limited resumed exploration in early 2017. Currently, it was owned by 5 holders, including AVZ Minerals holding 36%, Tianhua Times holding 24%, Zijin Mining holding 15%, Dathomir Mining Resources holding 15% and COMINIERE holding the left 10%

The project was originally planned 700,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate production capacity per year, equivalent to 80,000 tonnes LCE. Following the approval of the Manono Northeast exploration license by the DRC's Ministry of Mines (granted to COMINIERE and Zijin), the partners are now conducting geological surveys and feasibility studies. Construction is expected to take two years after the feasibility study and financing plan are finalized. Zijin Mining announced on January 7, 2025, that the Manono Lithium Project-its first lithium exploration venture in the DRC-is scheduled to commence production in Q1 2026.

Goulamina-Leo Lithium / Ganfeng Lithium

The Goulamina Lithium Project is located in southern Mali, Africa. In 2023, Ganfeng International increased its investment in Mali Lithium B.V. through a share subscription, acquiring an indirect 55% stake in the Goulamina project.

The Goulamana project plans to have a lithium concentrate production capacity of 506,000 tonnes per year in the first phase, and an additional 500,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate in the second phase. The total production capacity of the first and second phases can reach 1 million tonnes of lithium concentrate. On December 15, 2024, the first phase of Ganfeng Lithium's Goulamana spodumene project in Mali was officially put into operation, with a planned annual production capacity of 506,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate, and the second phase of the project is planned to expand its annual production capacity to 1 million tonnes of lithium concentrate.

Bougouni-Kodal Minerals / Hainan Mining

Located in southern Mali, the Bougouni lithium project was acquired by Kodal Minerals in 2016. Kodal and Hainan Mining currently hold a combined 65% stake, with the remaining 35% owned by the Malian government.

The project will be developed in two phases. Phase one, centered on the Ngoualana deposit, is designed to produce 1.4 million tonnes of ore annually, yielding 100,000-120,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate, with commissioning expected by end-2024. Phase two will target the Sogola-Baoule and Boumou deposits, with a flotation plant planned for construction in 2026 and an annual capacity of 150,000 tonnes of concentrate.

On February 11, 2025, Kodal announced first spodumene concentrate production during DMS plant commissioning. The initial batch achieved a lithium oxide (Li2O) grade of 5.53%, in line with projections. The facility is expected to ramp up to full capacity of 10,000 tonnes per month in the coming weeks.

Ewoyaa-Atlantic Lithium
The Ewoyaa project in western Ghana is set to become the country's first lithium-producing mine. Operated by Atlantic Lithium, the project includes the Ewoyaa, Abonko, and Kaampakrom pegmatite deposits. Piedmont Lithium holds a 9.4% stake in Atlantic and rights to 50% of the Ghanaian project's output.

In June 2023, a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) confirmed the project's economic viability, forecasting 3.6 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate production over a 12-year mine life. A mining lease was granted in October 2023. Originally slated for Q3 2024 start-up with 340,000 tonnes of annual production, first output has been delayed to Q1 2025 due to cost and price pressures.

Kenticha-AML / Yahua / Chengxin Lithium
Ethiopia's Kenticha project, located in Oromia in southern Ethiopia, is majority-owned and operated by Australia's Abyssinian Metals Limited (AML), holding 51%, with the Oromia regional government retaining 49%. In 2022, China's Chengxin Lithium and Yahua Group each acquired a 3.4% pre-IPO stake in AML.

Chengxin Lithium has committed a $20 million prepayment for offtake rights to 60,000-80,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate annually, while Yahua pledged $40 million for rights to 120,000 tonnes per year at market prices.

The project aims to begin production in 2024 with an output target of 200,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate, equivalent to 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

Karibib-Lepidico
Located in Namibia, the Karibib open-pit lithium mica mine processes ore into concentrate, which is then shipped to Lepidico's chemical plant in Abu Dhabi for conversion into lithium hydroxide, cesium and rubidium compounds, potassium sulfate, amorphous silica, and gypsum. According to the company's quarterly report ending June 30, 2024, Lepidico holds an 80% stake in the project.

As outlined in its February 2024 project update, Karibib is designed to produce 60,000 tonnes of concentrate annually, supporting lithium hydroxide output of 4,350 tonnes per year. The refinery and chemical plant are scheduled to commence operations in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Blesberg-Marula Mining
The Blesberg lithium-tantalum project in South Africa's Northern Cape is owned by Marula Mining through its local subsidiary. Marula has signed a long-term offtake agreement with UK-based Fujax for both ore and concentrate from Blesberg, with first shipments to begin in May 2024.

By February 2025, supporting infrastructure such as ore sorters and conveyors had been installed, enabling concentrate output to reach 5,000 tonnes per month. Marula reports that the mining license will take effect in February 2025. A selected contractor is expected to mobilize in Q1 2025 to initiate large-scale open-pit operations and reprocess existing stockpiles.

III. Conclusion
With abundant lithium resources, Africa is emerging as a key player in the global supply chain. Recent years have seen increased investment from both Chinese and international mining firms, with several projects reaching production and contributing to a more stable global lithium supply. Overall, the rise of African lithium projects presents new opportunities for supply diversification and growth across the value chain.

Edited by Cassie Li, lixiangying@mysteel.com