Zimplats mulls expansion into lithium

The Zimbabwean division of Impala Platinum, Zimplats is contemplating diversifying into other metals, including lithium.
Implats chairperson Thandi Orleyn was quoted by Bloomberg as saying that they still see a future in Zimbabwe and they are searching for opportunities to expand in other mining regions. 
“We are not going to rush into any untested areas,” she said. 
“We are continuously looking at everything that is going to ensure that what we are part of is environmentally sustainable.” 
The majority of the lithium produced in Zimbabwe, one of Africa's top lithium-producing nations, is often sent to China or South Africa. 
But as governments scramble to secure supplies of minerals required for the shift away from fossil fuels, an anticipated spike in output from Zimbabwe over the next several years appears destined to make the country a vital cog in the global battery supply chain.
The second-largest platinum deposits in the world, which are found with base metals like nickel and copper, are in Zimbabwe. 

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished