Kuvimba Mining House says construction of the long-awaited Sandawana lithium processing plant is expected to begin within the next four to six months, with the company now in the final stages of feasibility assessments and preliminary engineering design.
Addressing residents in Mberengwa, Kuvimba CEO Trevor Barnard said the project is on course to break ground in early 2026, marking the start of major earthworks, including site preparation, foundation construction, electricity and water supply installations, and the upgrading of key access roads to support both the export of lithium concentrates and the importation of heavy equipment.
Barnard emphasized that procurement planning is already underway, noting that long-lead items — large pieces of processing machinery sourced internationally — require up to six months for delivery. He said early ordering is essential to prevent delays once civil works begin.
He added that the recent rally in global lithium prices has strengthened the project’s financial viability, enabling workstreams to accelerate towards a targeted commissioning window between the first and second quarter of 2027.
“We have the right people and the right partners to implement this project and get it into operation as quickly as possible,” Barnard said.
Sandawana General Manager Godwin Gambiza reported that production performance to date remains strong, with spodumene concentrate output reaching 88,000 metric tonnes by October — close to the year-to-date budget of 91,000 tonnes.
“All key efficiencies such as the concentrate grade, lithium recovery and yield have been trending above budget,” Gambiza said. He credited the stability of the current processing arrangements and the exceptional quality of Sandawana’s spodumene ore, which he described as “arguably the best quality within Zimbabwe.”
He noted that these results have been achieved through a third party-owned plant that was not originally designed for Sandawana ore, underscoring what he called the strength of the deposit and the skill of the technical teams.
Kuvimba says construction of its own dedicated processing facility will further boost efficiency, reduce operating costs, and significantly increase value addition within Zimbabwe’s fast-growing lithium industry.
