STORY: Chinese new energy miners in Zimbabwe launch association to promote sector development
DATELINE: Sept. 26, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:04
LOCATION: Harare
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the launch ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WANG ZHENHUA, President, Association of Chinese New Energy Miners in Zimbabwe (ACNEMZ)
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SODA ZHEMU, Minister of Mines and Mining Development
4. various of the launch ceremony
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SODA ZHEMU, Minister of Mines and Mining Development
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ZHOU DING, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe

STORYLINE:

Chinese new energy mining entities in Zimbabwe on Monday officially launched the Association of Chinese New Energy Miners in Zimbabwe (ACNEMZ), an association that brings together players in the southern African nation's lithium sector.

Wang Zhenhua, president of the ACNEMZ, said the six-member association was established to ensure the development of the relatively new sector in Zimbabwe.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WANG ZHENHUA, President, Association of Chinese New Energy Miners in Zimbabwe
"As we all know, the development of the lithium mining industry in Zimbabwe and even the world is a relatively popular and very hot market, but it is also a brand-new industry in Zimbabwe. Therefore, new energy miners in Zimbabwe, represented by lithium mining companies, are all in the early stages of development, mainly focusing on mineral rights registration and acquisition, resource exploration and processing plant (construction). Most of the upstream and downstream companies that have just joined and are involved in this sector still lack most of the experience."
   
Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines and Mining Development Soda Zhemu said lithium is one of the critical minerals being produced in the country, and its sustainable exploitation is expected to play a crucial role in the country's economic development.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SODA ZHEMU, Minister of Mines and Mining Development
"Chinese companies are at the forefront of new energy technology, and they have a wealth of expertise in developing and operating new energy projects. This association will bring together Chinese and Zimbabwean companies to work together to develop Zimbabwe's new energy sector."
  
In addition, he said local beneficiation and value addition in the lithium sub-sector is of paramount importance given the huge lithium resources in Zimbabwe.
   
SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SODA ZHEMU, Minister of Mines and Mining Development
"As Zimbabwe, we need to strategically position ourselves within the global lithium value chains, we, therefore, need to move up the value chain, we need to produce lithium carbonate and ultimately produce lithium batteries in this country."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ZHOU DING, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe
"I believe that the association will also serve as a bridge to facilitate China-Zimbabwe cooperation in the new energy mining sector, encourage its members to better practice corporate social responsibilities, protect their legitimate rights and interests, and push for the healthy sustainable and high-quality development of Chinese mining companies in Zimbabwe."
   
China has remained Zimbabwe's largest source of investment, in the lithium mining sector, according to the Zimbabwe Investment and Promotion Agency (ZIDA). 

Zimbabwe, which hosts new energy minerals including lithium, graphite, nickel, and cobalt, is targeting to become a major player in the global green transition. 

Last year, the government banned the export of raw lithium in a bid to boost the domestic value chain.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harare.
(XHTV)