STORY: Zimbabwe commissions Chinese company's lithium processing plants
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 29, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 1, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:37
LOCATION: Harare
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Bikita Lithium Mine
2. various of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa inspecting the mine
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, Zimbabwean President
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, Zimbabwean President
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WANG PINGWEI, Chairman of Sinomine Resource Group
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): SODA ZHEMU, Zimbabwean Minister of Mines and Mining Development

STORYLINE:

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday officially commissioned China's Sinomine Resource Group's new spodumene processing plant and an expanded petalite processing plant at Zimbabwe's Bikita Lithium Mine.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, Zimbabwean President
"I commend Sinomine Resource Group for taking heed of my government's call for beneficiation and value addition of lithium ores by investing over 300 million U.S. dollars into the various stages of the project."

He said the significant milestone aligns with the government's efforts to consolidate Zimbabwe's position as a regional and global hub for lithium mining and related industries.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, Zimbabwean President
"The investment is in sync with my administration's focus on mineral value addition and beneficiation towards propelling the multi-faceted growth of our economy. As in Zimbabwe, we equally remain alive to our broader strategic responsibility to supply vital resources to a vast number of global industries for shared prosperity."

Mnangagwa said that despite the commendable milestones achieved in the lithium sub-sector, players must remain on course to produce battery-grade lithium and other related value-added products.

Sinomine Resource Group Chairman Wang Pingwei said the development at Bikita Mine testifies to Sinomine's commitment to investing in Africa.

He said reaching full capacity at Bikita Mine enhances the processing plants' efficiency and quality of output.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WANG PINGWEI, Chairman of Sinomine Resource Group
"Looking ahead, we aim to enhance our mining operations, increase employee benefits, and extend our research and development into other minerals. We are also exploring the feasibility of a refinery plant to further expand our industrial chain and add value to our product, reinforcing Zimbabwe's position in the global new energy industry."

Wang said Sinomine is committed to the socio-economic progress of the community through corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Mining and value addition is key to achieving the country's growth ambitions, said Soda Zhemu, Zimbabwe's mines and mining development minister.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): SODA ZHEMU, Zimbabwean Minister of Mines and Mining Development
"The mining industry is crucial in the achievement of national development strategy objectives, and eventually the country's goal of becoming an upper-middle income economy by 2030, with significant growth having been realized in the sector since 2017 despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic."

Soda Zhemu said his ministry has drawn up strategies to ensure that the mining sector reaches its full potential, including promoting the exploration of minerals through engaging in partnerships with the private sector, establishing new mines across the country, and working on policies to encourage mineral beneficiation and value addition.

Zimbabwe holds Africa's largest deposits of lithium, a key battery mineral, and hopes to capitalize on the global push for green energy.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harare.
(XHTV)