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Recently, Polite Kambamura, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Mines, visited the headquarters of Sinomine Resource Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Sinomine Resource”) during her visit to China, at the company’s invitation. She held in-depth talks with Wang Zhiwei, Vice President of Sinomine Resource. The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including Sinomine Resource’s mining investments in Zimbabwe, expansion across the entire industrial value chain, environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, and sustainable community development.
During the meeting, Wang Zhiwei briefed the Zimbabwean delegation on Sinomine Resource’s development history, core business segments, and global industrial footprint. Minister Kambamura commended the company for its continued investment in Zimbabwe and expressed particular interest in its ESG initiatives in the country. She hoped that Sinomine Resource would make further contributions to communities in the Bikita mining area and Masvingo Province. She also welcomed the company’s support for public welfare initiatives, including sports, and encouraged it to develop empowerment programs that would enable communities to sustain their own development beyond the life of mining operations.
Minister Kambamura specifically asked about the resources required to build a lithium salt plant and the challenges involved. Noting Sinomine Resource’s participation in mining investments across several countries in South-Central Africa, she expressed the hope that international mining companies such as Sinomine Resource would further expand their investments across Zimbabwe’s entire industrial value chain.
In response, Wang Zhiwei said that Sinomine Resource follows a pragmatic and prudent approach to project development, with all commitments based on thorough research and assessment. When the Zimbabwean government set its goal of developing a domestic lithium processing and manufacturing industry, the company had already begun positioning itself accordingly, while undertaking comprehensive theoretical research, testing, and validation.
Zimbabwe is endowed with abundant mineral resources, Wang noted, and Sinomine Resource is committed to establishing a long-term presence in the country, maximizing resource utilization, and continuously extending its downstream industrial value chain. He also emphasized, however, that this process must proceed step by step and requires further infrastructure development, technical personnel, and reliable suppliers. Sinomine Resource also attaches great importance to the long-term development of local communities. The company pledged to ensure that all its activities take environmental protection and sustainability into account, with the goal of achieving win-win outcomes for the government, the company, and local communities.
Minister Kambamura welcomed Sinomine Resource’s commitments. She noted that Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng had highlighted Sinomine Resource’s Bikita Mine and its supporting lithium sulfate plant project as key projects at the opening ceremony of the China International Mining Conference, describing them as an example of mutually beneficial China-Africa cooperation. This recognition, she said, demonstrated the high regard in which the Chinese and Zimbabwean governments hold Sinomine Resource’s investment and development in Zimbabwe.
Minister Kambamura expressed the hope that Sinomine Resource would continue empowering local communities. Wang Zhiwei responded that the company was actively advancing related initiatives. These include working with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) on a dam-raising project at Bikita and bringing in partners to develop a 50 MW thermal power plant and associated facilities.
Looking ahead, the company is also considering connecting upstream and downstream industries to establish a special economic zone. Wang explained that once the lithium salt plant is completed and reaches full production capacity, Sinomine Resource’s cumulative investment in Zimbabwe will exceed US$1 billion. Zimbabwe has become a key destination for the Group’s capital-intensive investments, and the company attaches great importance to its investment and industrial development in the country.
Wang also called on Minister Kambamura to consider providing businesses with stable and predictable policy support to encourage more investors to enter Zimbabwe and strengthen their confidence in making long-term investments. He emphasized that Sinomine Resource treats local employees equally and will continue advancing initiatives such as the construction of hospitals and schools.
Minister Kambamura expressed great satisfaction with Sinomine Resource’s construction of the lithium salt plant and its fulfillment of commitments made to the Zimbabwean government. She reaffirmed that the Zimbabwean government would continue providing favorable policy support and maintaining close cooperation with the company, expressing strong confidence in the long-term prospects for bilateral cooperation.
In closing, Wang Zhiwei emphasized that, as a responsible international mining company, Sinomine Resource takes a long-term view and recognizes that the well-being of local communities is fundamental to the sustainable development of mining areas. The company will continue to uphold its commitment to long-term development, promote the growth of Zimbabwe’s mining industry alongside sustainable community development, and work toward lasting mutual benefits for the government, the company, and local communities.
