According to the Ministry of Commerce, Lithium Zimbabwe is constructing Africa's first lithium sulfate processing plant at its Arcadia mine in Zimbabwe. This landmark investment will enable Zimbabwe to shift away from exporting raw ore and instead produce higher-value battery intermediates for the global electric vehicle market. Prospect Lithium is investing approximately $400 million to build a dedicated lithium sulfate plant near the mine, which is expected to commence operations in 2026. Instead of exporting raw ore, the plant will convert locally mined ore into lithium sulfate—a key intermediate used in manufacturing battery-grade lithium chemicals for electric vehicles, grid energy storage, and consumer electronics.