Zimbabwe has expanded its lithium export infrastructure with a new freight rail option linking mining operations to the Port of Maputo in Mozambique, a move expected to improve transport efficiency for one of the country’s fastest-growing mineral industries.
According to Reuters, Zimbabwe’s state-owned National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), working with private rail and logistics operators, has established capacity to transport lithium concentrate by rail to Maputo, providing producers with an alternative to road haulage.
The development supports Zimbabwe’s efforts to strengthen its position as Africa’s leading lithium producer while improving logistics for a mineral that has become increasingly important to the global electric vehicle and battery manufacturing industries.
The initiative also aligns with the government’s mining development agenda under Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura, whose ministry has been promoting greater investment in the country’s lithium value chain alongside expanded domestic processing.
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According to Reuters, the National Railways of Zimbabwe partnered with Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway and Zimbabwean logistics company Silvergill to transport the first 1,000 metric tonnes of lithium concentrate from Tsingshan Holding Group’s Gwanda Lithium Mine to the Port of Maputo.
Reuters reported that the rail journey covers approximately 1,000 kilometres from Gwanda through Beitbridge and Mozambique before reaching the port.
The new rail option offers an alternative to road transport, which has traditionally been used to move most of Zimbabwe’s lithium concentrate but has faced higher costs and logistical bottlenecks.
Reuters also reported that the National Railways of Zimbabwe has been working with private logistics partners to rebuild freight volumes after years of declining rail activity caused by underinvestment.
What This Means For Africa
Efficient transport infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as African countries seek to maximise the economic benefits of their critical mineral resources.
For Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura, expanding export logistics complements Zimbabwe’s broader strategy of strengthening the lithium sector through improved infrastructure, increased investment and local mineral beneficiation.
According to Reuters, Chinese mining companies including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine, Sichuan Yahua, Chengxin Lithium and Tsingshan have invested approximately $2 billion in Zimbabwe’s lithium mines and processing facilities since 2021.
Reuters also reported that Zimbabwe exported 1.13 million tonnes of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate to China in 2025, representing about 15% of China’s total lithium concentrate imports during the year.
As Zimbabwe continues implementing policies that encourage more local processing, producers expect exports of lithium sulphate, an intermediate product used in battery manufacturing, to reach approximately 344,000 tonnes by 2030, according to Reuters.
The combination of stronger transport networks and expanded processing capacity could improve Zimbabwe’s competitiveness within the global battery materials supply chain while creating additional economic opportunities across the mining sector.
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Image Credit: Great Africa Tourism Agency
