HARARE, Sept 9 – India’s Lohum has shipped its first consignment of lithium ore from Zimbabwe, marking the start of its mining operations in the southern African country and making it the first Indian domestic company to produce lithium from overseas mining assets.
The sustainable critical minerals producer has secured mining rights covering 10 lithium blocks in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Province. The assets span about 1,100 hectares and contain estimated deposits of between 30 million and 40 million tonnes of lithium ore.
Lohum estimates that the mining assets could support production equivalent to around 300,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate and have an estimated value of approximately $7 billion based on current prices. The company also holds an option to acquire as many as 90 additional mining blocks located adjacent to its existing concessions.
The move gives Lohum greater control across the lithium supply chain, complementing its existing operations in refining, advanced manufacturing and battery recycling. For India, which is seeking to reduce its exposure to imported critical minerals, securing resources directly at the mining stage could strengthen the supply base for its expanding electric vehicle and battery industries.
Lohum Chief Executive Officer Rajat Verma said obtaining lithium supplies at the source would help lower battery costs while strengthening India’s electric vehicle supply chain.
The company also plans to establish processing capabilities in Zimbabwe, rather than relying on the export of unprocessed ore. Such an approach could allow more value from the country’s lithium resources to be captured locally while giving Lohum greater control over the material before it enters its downstream refining and manufacturing operations.
Zimbabwe has emerged as an increasingly important lithium producer in Africa, attracting investment as demand for battery minerals rises globally. Lohum’s entry adds an Indian player to the growing international interest in Zimbabwe’s mineral resources and reflects a broader effort by manufacturers and governments to secure supply closer to the source.
For India, the investment represents more than access to additional raw materials. Building overseas positions in critical minerals is becoming an important part of the country’s strategy to strengthen supply-chain resilience as demand for batteries, electric vehicles and energy-storage technologies increases.
