Low prices halt Bikita Minerals lithium plant

Bikita Minerals has shut down one of its production plants citing weak global prices, according to an internal memo seen by this publication.

The Dense Media Separation (DSM)plant, which was producing lithium from petalite, will be closed starting October 2024, the company said.

While are opening date has not been disclosed, sources familiar with the matter suggest that the company has indicated to some contractors a potential re-opening in January next year.

“Bikita produces lithium from spodumene and petalite.

The section dedicated to extracting petalite is the one that has been closed,” said a source who requested anonymity due to lack of official authorisation to speak to the media.

The primary contractors, KW (involved in drilling and blasting) and Kinsey (involved in load and haul), have since ceased operations.

Petalite and spodumene are both lithium-bearing minerals found in pegmatite rocks. They are similar in composition but have distinct crystal structures and properties.

Petalite has a relatively low specific gravity compared to other lithium-bearing minerals, making it easier to concentrate from ore.

It is also a good source of lithium oxide, which is used in the production of ceramics and glass.

Spodumene is the most common lithium-bearing mineral and is the primary source of lithium for lithium-ion batteries. It has a higher specific gravity than petalite and is often recovered using flotation techniques.

Bikita Minerals’ spodumene products are a cornerstone of the lithium supply chain, serving as a primary source of lithia for a wide range of industrial applications, including battery production.

Globally,the sharp decline in lithium prices has led to mine closures.

In January, Adelaide-based Core Lithium announced that due to “weak market conditions,” it was suspending mining operations at its Finniss site near Darwin, resulting in the loss of 150 jobs, according to a media report.

In August, US firm Albemarle announced plans to scale back production at its Kemerton lithium processing plant, located about 170 kilometres south of Perth.

This decision is expected to result in over 300 job cuts. Arcadium Lithium followed suit this month, announcing the temporary closure of its Mt Cattlin mine in Western Australia due to low prices.

While some producers are pausing operations, others are expanding, anticipating a reboundin global lithium demand and prices.

Bikita Minerals, located in Zimbabwe’s Masvingo Province, boasts a significant lithium deposit estimated at approximately 11 million tonnes.

This resource has established it as the largest lithium mine in Zimbabwe.

The mine holds 10,8 million tonnes of lithium ore with an average grade of 1,4 percent lithium.

This translates to roughly 0,15 million tonnes of contained lithium.

The mine has been a key producer of lithium minerals, particularly spodumene, a crucial component in the production of lithium-ion batteries.

In 2022,the Sinomine Resource Group acquired Bikita Minerals, positioning the mine for continued development and potential future expansion.-herald