Prospect produces lithium carbonate in Zimbabwe

Australia-based Prospect Resources has begun producing battery-grade lithium carbonate from a pilot plant in the Zimbabwean town of Kwekwe to provide samples for potential customers.

The samples are being manufactured from petalite ore extracted from the company's Arcadia lithium mine which has Africa's largest lithium resource.

The pilot plant is the only one in Africa and is partly aimed at demonstrating that Zimbabwe has the technical capability to produce downstream lithium products.

Zimbabwe's minister of mines Winston Chitando confirmed during a site visit to the pilot plant that international mining companies operating in the country will no longer have to list on the Zimbabwe stock exchange.

"We are removing barriers for companies to invest in Zimbabwe to create jobs and wealth for the country," he said.