Bikita Lithium Mine
BLM
The mine started operations in 1952 and has changed ownership several times over the years. Previous owners included AMMS - Africa Minerals. In 2022, the mine was acquired from African Minerals Ltd, for US$180 million by Sinomine Resources Group. Since Sinomine took over, the mine has grown to include a 2-million-tons/year spodumene concentrate beneficiation project and a 2-million-tons/year lepidolite concentrate beneficiation expansion project, which commenced production in July 2023.
Zimbabwe
Masvingo
1952
Annual Production
| Year | Status | Bauxite | Copper | Cobalt | Lithium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | operational | - | - | - | - | - |
Mining Details
Bikita Mines is located about 325 km south east of Harare and 80 km northwest of Masvingo Province, on the Hills of Bikita.
Ownership
Deposit Size
113.3517 million tons of ore
As of December 31, 2023, the Bikita Lithium Mine had a lithium mineral resource of 113.3517 million tons of ore, equivalent to 2.8847 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent.
Project Impacts
Social Impacts
Loss of livelihoods.
resolvedMeaning: Loss of livelihoods for communities as a result of the pollution, affecting their livestock and agriculture
Loss of livelihoods for communities as a result of the pollution, affecting their livestock and agriculture
Families displaced by mining infrastructure
ongoingMeaning: Families displaced by mining infrastructure.
Twelve families were displaced by Bikita Minerals after it dug a trench that surrounded their homes, cutting off access to their agricultural fields.
Environmental Impacts
Dam water pollution
resolvedMeaning: Dam water pollution.
The Matezva dam has been affected by water pollution, affecting aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. This has had negative consequences for the community that relied on the dam for their livelihoods.
Dust pollution, environmental degradation
ongoingMeaning: Dust pollution, environmental degradation
Dust pollution and environmental degradation have been reported, as has the lack of community consultations and the depletion of water resources for community needs.
Labour Worker Rights
Wage, labor, worker exploitation reported
ongoingMeaning: Wage violations, labor violations, exploitation of workers.
Low wages below National Employment Council rates have been reported, as have labor violations and exploitation of workers. Similarly, employees on sick, compassionate or maternity leave are barred from receiving bonuses, disproportionately harming vulnerable groups. Workers report fearing dismissal for filing complaints, lacking grievance channels and facing arbitrary contract renewals. Some departments require continuous work without rest days to maintain bonuses, exacerbating fatigue and safety risks.
Unsafe working and housing conditions
ongoingMeaning: Unsafe working conditions, inadequate worker protection, substandard living conditions.
Unsafe working conditions and lack of protective equipment have been reported. There was a case of the death of a worker owing to the lack of proper safety and health standards being followed. Employees have been housed in substandard wooden cabins with no ventilation, no flooring and distant, unsanitary toilet facilities.
Security guard shot a mine worker.
resolvedMeaning: Security guard shot a mine worker
A mine worker was shot by a security guard.
Project Impacts
Social Impacts
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss of livelihoods. | Loss of livelihoods for communities as a result of the pollution, affecting their livestock and agriculture | 2024 | resolved | Loss of livelihoods for communities as a result of the pollution, affecting their livestock and agriculture |
| Families displaced by mining infrastructure | Families displaced by mining infrastructure. | 2024 | ongoing | Twelve families were displaced by Bikita Minerals after it dug a trench that surrounded their homes, cutting off access to their agricultural fields. |
Environmental Impacts
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dam water pollution | Dam water pollution. | 2024 | resolved | The Matezva dam has been affected by water pollution, affecting aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. This has had negative consequences for the community that relied on the dam for their livelihoods. |
| Dust pollution, environmental degradation | Dust pollution, environmental degradation | 2024 | ongoing | Dust pollution and environmental degradation have been reported, as has the lack of community consultations and the depletion of water resources for community needs. |
Labour Worker Rights
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wage, labor, worker exploitation reported | Wage violations, labor violations, exploitation of workers. | 2023 | ongoing | Low wages below National Employment Council rates have been reported, as have labor violations and exploitation of workers. Similarly, employees on sick, compassionate or maternity leave are barred from receiving bonuses, disproportionately harming vulnerable groups. Workers report fearing dismissal for filing complaints, lacking grievance channels and facing arbitrary contract renewals. Some departments require continuous work without rest days to maintain bonuses, exacerbating fatigue and safety risks. |
| Unsafe working and housing conditions | Unsafe working conditions, inadequate worker protection, substandard living conditions. | 2023 | ongoing | Unsafe working conditions and lack of protective equipment have been reported. There was a case of the death of a worker owing to the lack of proper safety and health standards being followed. Employees have been housed in substandard wooden cabins with no ventilation, no flooring and distant, unsanitary toilet facilities. |
| Security guard shot a mine worker. | Security guard shot a mine worker | 2023 | resolved | A mine worker was shot by a security guard. |
Related News9
The Tarnished Horizon: Unveiling the Dark Side of Lithium Mining in Bikita
Once a tranquil and serene community nestled in the heart of Zimbabwe, Bikita now finds itself caught in the relentless grip of an insidious force that threatens its very existence. The bludgeoning rise of lithium mining, driven by a surging global demand for this strategic mineral, has brought forth a blight.
Lithium curse: Bikita Minerals isolates villagers from water source
Masvingo—Residents of Murape village are facing a severe crisis due to the construction of a slime dam by the nearby Bikita Minerals, which has not only cut off their access to clean water but also poses a threat to their livelihoods, an investigation has established.
Bikita Minerals at it again, dumps waste in Matezva Dam
MASVINGO-Zimbabwe’s largest lithium mine, Bikita Minerals has been slapped with a damning Environment Protection Order (EPO) for flagrantly polluting Matezva Dam and drawing unsustainably large volumes of water from it. This is not the first time the Chinese-owned mine, which generated US$500 million in exports in 2023, has been caught on the wrong side of the law.
Union forced out of May Day celebrations in Zimbabwe
Five trade unionists from the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) were threatened and chased away at gun point by more than 20 thugs, while they were setting up for the Workers Day celebrations at a stadium at Bikita Minerals on 1 May.
Locals slam Zimbabwe for turning a blind eye to Chinese miner’s violations
Mining workers and villagers near the Bikita Minerals lithium mine in Zimbabwe accuse the government and Chinese mining company Sinomine Resource Group of sidelining environmental and social standards in the scramble for lithium.
Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe's Arcadia Mine Workers Seek Protection; Company running at Loss Seeks to Down Size
Workers at Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) and others at smaller companies contracted by the mine have moved to join labour unions amid reports of threats against doing so by the employer. More than 100 workers have since joined the Zimbabwe Diamond Allied Mine Workers Union (ZDAMWU) and requested the union to look into their conditions of service following the death of at least two workers earlier this year.
Unsafe conditions caused two deaths in Zimbabwe lithium mine
The Arcadia lithium mine, located in Goromonzi, just outside of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, is owned by Prospect Resources through its subsidiary Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ). The open-pit mine is considered to be one of the world’s largest hard rock lithium resources, holding estimated reserves of 42.3 million tonnes.
Zimbabwe: Indepth - Shocking Deaths, Freak Accidents At Chinese Lithium Mine Expose Unsafe Working Conditions
TWO employees have died in a short space of time due to unsafe working conditions at Arcadia Mine, a Chinese-run multi-million open-pit lithium mining company based in Goromonzi, 38km east of Harare, the capital, NewZimbabwe.com has established.
Chinese takeover of Bikita Minerals brings more misery to workers
Masvingo province-based lithium mining company Bikita Minerals, which has been taken over by the Chinese, is registering steep surges in production of late, but its employees see no reason to celebrate this as working conditions deteriorate. Records show that Shenzhen-listed Sinomine acquired Bikita Minerals for US$180 million in January 2022 and announced a US$300 million investment to increase production and extend the life of the mine. Bikita Minerals was previously controlled by German investors through African Minerals Ltd which held a 55.4 percent stake in the mine.