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Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) now expects to begin crude lithium carbonate production at its Arcadia operation in the first quarter of 2027, later than its previously reported year-end 2026 target, as the company invests US$40 million in a sulphuric acid plant to secure supplies of a key processing chemical, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The revised timeline puts the start of carbonate production in the same quarter that PLZ expects its sulphuric acid project to reach full production, adding another milestone to the expansion of Zimbabwe’s lithium-processing industry ahead of restrictions on concentrate exports scheduled for January 2027.
PLZ Mine Manager Mthokozisi Goliath said preparations for carbonate production were underway, while the sulphuric acid facility was intended to provide a consistent supply of the chemical.
“Preparations are already underway, and we expect production to start in the first quarter of 2027. We are also in the process of establishing the sulphuric acid plant, and we expect to have full production of sulphuric acid by the first quarter of 2027. This will enable us to have a constant supply of sulphuric acid,” Goliath said.
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The US$40 million investment is intended to strengthen the operation’s access to an important processing input. Sulphuric acid is used in lithium chemical processing, including the conversion of spodumene into intermediate products such as lithium sulphate.
Producing the chemical locally could reduce reliance on imported supplies and exposure to shipping delays, transport costs and external supply disruptions. A more reliable supply could also help the operation plan production more consistently, although PLZ has not disclosed projected savings from replacing imports with local production.
Goliath told Mining Zimbabwe that the lithium sulphate plant was operating at approximately 78% of its stated annual design capacity of 50,000 tonnes, as PLZ works to expand its processing operations.
The sulphuric acid facility is expected to reach full production in the first quarter of 2027, but PLZ has not quantified how much additional sulphate output it expects the project to support or whether the acid plant will supply other industrial customers.
Arcadia began exporting lithium sulphate in April 2026, marking a shift from exporting concentrates towards producing processed lithium chemicals in Zimbabwe.
Lithium sulphate is an intermediate product that can be further processed into lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide for use in battery-material supply chains.
The planned carbonate output would take the operation another step along that chain. However, crude lithium carbonate is not necessarily battery-grade material, which requires further processing and must meet specific quality standards.
Zimbabwe’s planned restrictions on lithium concentrate exports from January 2027 have increased pressure on producers to establish domestic processing capacity.
The policy is intended to retain more mineral value locally, but the transition depends on companies bringing processing facilities online and securing the power, chemicals and other inputs needed to operate them.
PLZ’s next milestones are therefore the start of crude lithium carbonate production and the commissioning of its sulphuric acid facility, both targeted for the first quarter of 2027.