With electric vehicles gaining ground, lithium gets Harare’s motor revving
Zimbabwean government hopes that global electric-car makers whose vehicles are powered by lithium-ion batteries will in the near future recognise the country as a lithium hub
A white Tesla Model X appears from time to time on the streets of Harare. The electric vehicle stands out from the thousands of petrol- and diesel-powered cars in Zimbabwe's capital when it does. For most motorists, the Tesla Model X has become a source of envy as fuel shortages persist and, for the second week in a row, motorists queue for hours at service stations. More significantly, the Tesla Model X - the first electric vehicle to appear in the country - embodies a component in electric vehicles that has the potential to turn around Zimbabwe's economic fortunes: lithium. The government hopes that global electric-car makers whose vehicles are powered by lithium-ion batteries will in the near future recognise the country as a lithium hub. Zimbabwe is the fifth-largest lithium producer in the world and the largest in Africa. Globally, it trails behind Australia, Chile, Argentina and China. Figures from Statista show that lithium production in Zimbabwe rose to 1,000t in 2017 from 9...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.