Latest news with #VerifyEngineering
Zawya
28-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa's Lithium Market Expansion Ahead of African Mining Week (AMW) 2025
Africa's lithium industry is gaining strong momentum in 2025, marked by new project launches, significant discoveries, increased capital inflows and progress in local value addition. In a major milestone for downstream development, Zimbabwe's Verify Engineering announced in July the successful production of the country's first locally manufactured lithium-ion battery. The development aligns with Zimbabwe's national strategy to ban unprocessed lithium exports by 2027 – a move aimed at driving beneficiation, enhancing domestic industrial capacity and positioning the country as a competitive player in the global battery value chain. These advancements lay the foundation for the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 – Africa's premier gathering for mining stakeholders – which will spotlight emerging opportunities across the continent's lithium value chain. AMW serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@ New Discoveries As the official platform for advancing Africa's mining prospects, AMW 2025 will provide global stakeholders with key updates on the continent's latest lithium discoveries and project developments. Among these, UK-based Aterian and global major Rio Tinto announced Rwanda's first lithium find at the HCK Lithium Project in July 2025 – marking a pivotal milestone in the country's mining sector. Meanwhile, in Ivory Coast, Atlantic Lithium reported the discovery of spodumene-bearing pegmatites at its Agboville and Rubino licenses in March 2025. The find comes as the company progresses its flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana, set to become the country's first industrial-scale lithium operation. First Production Milestones AMW 2025 will also spotlight Africa's growing lithium production capacity and its rising contribution to the global battery mineral supply chain, as several first-production milestones are achieved across the continent. In July, Premier African Minerals commenced operations at its Zulu Lithium Plant in Zimbabwe, reinforcing the country's role as a leading global lithium producer. Earlier in February, UK-based Kodal Minerals began spodumene concentrate production at its Boungouni Project in Mali, targeting a steady monthly output of 10,000 tons, primarily destined for export to China. Meanwhile, Mali's Goulamina Project – operated by China's Ganfeng Lithium – achieved first production in January, with Phase 1 capacity reaching 506,000 tons, positioning the site among the largest lithium operations worldwide. New Financing Unlocking Africa's Potential AMW will also showcase financing deals and innovative mechanisms accelerating the growth of the lithium sector. In July, Canada's Lithium Africa raised over C$3.4 million through a private placement to fund exploration and development projects across Morocco, the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali and Zimbabwe. That same month, Nigeria's Continental Lithium expanded its working capital through a strategic merger with Chariot Corporation to support its hard rock lithium assets in Oyo and Kwara states. Meanwhile, in May, U.S. startup KoBold Metals pledged $1 billion to develop the Manono Lithium Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following its acquisition of project operator AVZ Minerals. As Africa rapidly positions itself as a major hub for lithium production, AMW serves as the focal point for industry dialogue. The event will spotlight investment-ready opportunities and facilitate deal-making between African stakeholders and global financiers, advancing the continent's ambitions in the lithium space. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Business Insider
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Zimbabwe records zero failures in its one year lithium experiment
In a monumental leap for Zimbabwe's clean-tech ambitions, Verify Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, a state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Technology Development, has achieved a zero-failure rate on its lithium-ion batteries after a year-long test phase. Verify Engineering (Pvt) Ltd achieved a zero-failure rate on their lithium-ion batteries after a year-long test phase. These batteries have a 10-year lifespan and are suitable for use in various small electronic devices. Zimbabwe, possessing extensive lithium resources, aims to become a significant player in the green tech sector. Production-grade batteries, often used in mobile phones and tiny gadgets, have undergone thorough testing and are rated for a 10-year lifetime. Verify Engineering's CEO, Engineer Pedzisai Tapfumaneyi, affirmed the result, citing the product's robustness and capability for scalability. "We are happy that the product went for some tests lasting the whole year, and we can confirm that only last month we recorded zero failure rate on the product,' Tapfumaneyi stated. Zimbabwe has the largest lithium reserves in Africa and the fifth-largest lithium resources worldwide, as seen in the Herald. The enormous lithium reserves could provide the southern African nation with the much-needed foreign exchange to fund its development goals if they are mined, processed, and exported. Additionally, Zimbabwe may become a major regional producer of lithium batteries and other green products essential to the shift to greener energy if the lithium reserves serve as the foundation for a green economy. Since December 2022, the government has implemented a ban on exporting raw lithium concentrate, pushing for domestic beneficiation under the Base Mineral Export Control Act. The aim is to stimulate value addition, retain revenue within the country, and curb smuggling. Verify Engineering, founded in April 2005 and already selling medical and industrial gases, has grown its reach throughout Zimbabwe, including Harare, Bulawayo, and Mutare. The company's next objective is to raise funds and find industry partners to create a full-scale lithium-ion battery production facility. 'I am sure you recall that we won an award for producing the lithium-ion battery, and we are pleased that the product underwent a year-long test, which we can confirm resulted in a zero failure rate last month. What this means is that the product is functioning well, with a normal lifespan of 10 years. We are now focusing on commercialising the product,' Tapfumaneyi once revealed in an interview. 'Commercialising the lithium-ion battery will require approximately US$28 million to establish a large-scale manufacturing plant. The initial research phase for the product cost nearly US$500,000,' he added. Verify Engineering's achievement aligns with Zimbabwe's beneficiation goal. The government has imposed tariffs on unprocessed resources (5% on platinum), eliminated charges on processing equipment, and is accelerating infrastructure projects like as power plants and industrial parks.
