Top 10 largest lithium mines in Africa
Lithium mining in Africa is gaining attention due to global demand for its key component in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage.
Here is a list of some notable lithium mines in Africa:
Arcadia Lithium Project, Zimbabwe
After a nine-month construction period, the Arcadia plant began exporting concentrates in April 2023.
The Arcadia open-pit lithium project, situated 38 kilometers east of Zimbabwe’s capital city of 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 tons.
The Chinese group plans to invest approximately US$300 million into 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
The Bikita mine is the world’s largest-known deposit of lithium at approximately 11 million tons. (bikitaminerals.com)
The Bikita mine has been ranked as the largest lithium mine in Zimbabwe. The privately owned mine located in southern Zimbabwe in Masvingo Province holds the world’s largest-known lithium deposit at approximately 11 million metric tons.
The mine holds 10,8 million metric tons of lithium ore, grading 1.4 percent, resulting in 0.15 million metric tons of lithium. It has produced a significant source of lithium minerals, including spodumene.
Sinomine Resource Group bought the mine in 2022.
Manono Lithium Project, DRC
The Manono Project is located north of Lubumbashi in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Manono-Kitolo mine, a former tin and coltan mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, holds one of the world’s largest lithium reserves.
The Manono-Kitolo mine in Tanganyika Province, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, holds 120 million tonnes of lithium ore, grading 0.6 percent, resulting in 0,72 million tonnes of lithium.
AVZ Minerals Limited and La Congolaise d’Exploitation Minière SA own the Manono Project, with AVZ responsible for funding the feasibility study and mining decision.
Manono Tailings Project, DRC
The tailings are a legacy of historical tin mining in the area. (www.tantalexlithium.com)
Manono Tailings situated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the project has a maiden mineral resource estimate of 5,46 million tons of Li2O at a grade of 0.72 percent.
The tailings are a legacy of historical tin mining in the area.
The project will comprise 11 technogenic deposits and is poised to bring an initial production of 100,000 tons per year of concentrate to the international market by 2025.
Blesberg Lithium Project, South Africa
The Blesberg project, located in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, is home to a substantial amount of lithium, ranging between 250,000 and 400,000 tons.
It is one of the largest known economically mineralised pegmatite deposits and has historically been the largest single source of tantalum in South Africa.
Marula Mining, a mining and exploration investment company, successfully facilitated the first shipment of lithium ore in January 2023 through a US$5 million lithium repayment facility.
Goulamina Lithium Project, Mali
The Goulamina Lithium Project is situated west of Bougouni in Mali. (www.leolithium.com) Over its lifespan of 21 years, the Goulamina lithium project is projected to produce 142.3 million tons of 1.38 percent-grade lithium oxide. Situated approximately 150km from Mali’s capital city of Bamako, the project is 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 exceeding $320 million.
Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project, Zimbabwe
The Zulu Project was first pegged in 1955.
The Zulu lithium and tantalum project, Zimbabwe’s largest undeveloped lithium-bearing site, will consist of 14 mineral claims covering a surface area of 3.5 km2, which are prospective for lithium and tantalum mineralisation.
Owned by Africa-focused strategic metals and minerals developer Premier African Minerals, the project will explore an inferred lithium carbonate equivalent resource of 526 000 tonnes, grading 1.06 percent Li2O.
The mine is set to develop a 50 000-ton per-year pilot plant by research and development company Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean Technology to the tune of US$35 million.
Ewoyaa Lithium Project, Ghana
The Ewoyaa lithium project developed at Atlantic Lithium is expected to become Ghana’s first lithium-producing mine and is expected to yield 35.3 million tons of lithium, grading 1.25 percent Li2O.
With production scheduled to start by the end of 2024, the project is being developed by lithium-focused exploration and development company Atlantic Lithium and is set to feature a life-of-mine of 12.5 years.
With an initial capital investment of US$125 million, the project will employ conventional open-pit mining methods at 14 individual pits across five mining areas, involving drill, blast, load, and haul operations. — Mining Review
