HARARE, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday hailed Chinese investment in lithium processing as key to maximizing the value of the country's mineral resources.

In a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at the opening of the Mining, Engineering and Transport Expo in Bulawayo, Mnangagwa commended China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt for building Zimbabwe's first lithium sulphate plant in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province.

Through its local subsidiary, Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, the company in April dispatched Zimbabwe's first-ever export of locally produced lithium sulphate, marking a major milestone in the southern African country's drive toward mineral beneficiation and value addition.

Mnangagwa also praised other Chinese-invested companies for pushing lithium beneficiation, including Sinomine's subsidiary Bikita Minerals, which is also building a lithium sulphate plant in Bikita, Masvingo Province.

"Once set up, the plants will result in Zimbabwe being the only nation in Africa to host multiple lithium-processing operations," Mnangagwa said.

He said Zimbabwe had long derived limited benefits from supplying raw minerals to global markets, but "that narrative is changing."

"Benefits must not only accrue to mining company shareholders, but to actors along the value chain including local communities," Mnangagwa said, urging stakeholders to boldly transition to value addition.

Zimbabwe, Africa's major lithium producer, has seen significant investment in its lithium sector in recent years due to growing global demand for the mineral, which is critical to the global energy transition.

To maximize benefits from the critical resource, the Zimbabwean Cabinet approved a ban on raw minerals and lithium concentrates exports in March, urging players in the industry to invest in processing plants. ■