Africa seeks to expand lithium processing capacity

Africa's share of the global lithium supply rose to 14% in 2025, up from 6% in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency. This growth is primarily driven by increased production in Zimbabwe and Mali.

African producers are currently working to move beyond simple mineral extraction and concentration toward chemical processing. While Chinese companies are developing lithium sulfate facilities in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the continent still faces a gap in manufacturing battery-grade lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and battery cells.

In Zimbabwe, the state-owned company Mutapa Energy Resources has requested government support to develop a lithium concentrator at its Sandawana project. This initiative is part of a broader regional effort by countries such as Zimbabwe, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to advance further along the battery value chain, transitioning from raw ore extraction to the production of intermediate materials used in battery manufacturing.