In mid-November, the Kamativi Lithium Mine Phase II project in Zimbabwe, designed, supervised, and supplied by China Nerin (supply of instrumentation, automation, and communication equipment), successfully commenced its operation. The project has achieved an annual processing capacity of 2,300 ktpa lithium ore and an annual output of 350 ktpa lithium concentrate. The continuous and stable production following the commissioning, with comprehensive compliance in processing capacity and product indicators, signifies another fruitful achievement for China Nerin in the African new energy mining market.

Aerial View of Kamativi Lithium Mine

Phase II Process Plant of Kamativi Lithium Mine

The Kamativi Lithium Mine is a large comprehensive mine integrating mining, mineral processing, and auxiliary facilities, with a mining and mineral processing capacity of 2,300 ktpa, consisting of a 300 ktpa pilot line for Phase I and a 2,000 ktpa production line for Phase II. As a key project in Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa highly praised the project's significant contribution to local economic and social development during the celebration of the Phase I commissioning and Phase II commencement. The successful commissioning of Phase II will greatly enhance Yahua Group's self-sufficiency rate of lithium ore resources, which is of great and far-reaching significance for the international development level of Yahua Group.

China Nerin Project Team at the Project Site in Zimbabwe

Since undertaking the overall design work of the project in January 2023, the China Nerin project team has completed the feasibility study, basic design, detailed design, construction, and production commissioning services with high quality within just over a year, demonstrating "China Speed" in Zimbabwe. The project team formulated an "open-pit mining first, then underground mining" process to address the potential adverse impact of historical underground stopes on mining safety, achieving efficient mining. In response to the low grade of lithium minerals in the ROM and the high content of harmful impurities such as phosphorus, potassium, and sodium, the team innovatively applied a "two-stage desliming + flotation for impurity removal" process, achieving efficient recovery of lithium mineral resources. Additionally, the project adapted to local conditions in aspects such as general layout, logistics transportation, equipment sizing and arrangement, and plant structural types, adopting a series of strict environmental, ecological, energy-saving, and water-saving measures, and fully utilizing "Made in China" elements to minimize project investment and operating cost.

During the construction phase, Nerin's supervision team won high praise and full recognition from the owner with their diligent, professional, and rigorous style. They overcame a series of difficulties and pressures, such as complex on-site geological structures and multiple cross-construction interfaces among various construction contractors, focusing on pre-construction and in-construction control, strictly controlling the quality and safety of the project to ensure that every process is controllable. At the same time, the supervision team also actively played a role in communication and coordination, serving as a consultant and assistant to the project owner, quickly and efficiently handling and resolving various issues, clearing all engineering obstacles, and making significant contributions to the smooth implementation of the project.

China Nerin also leveraged its professional technology to provide the owner with supply of the process plant automation system, communication system, detection instruments, and valves, as well as commissioning services, helping the project become a new benchmark for local mine automation control levels. The majority of the plant's process equipment is centrally and automatically controlled in the control room, which not only greatly improves labor productivity but also improves working conditions and significantly saves on labor resource costs, achieving real-time monitoring of the production process and rapid response to production scheduling, significantly enhancing the level of mineral processing technology.

The successful commissioning of the Kamativi Lithium Mine project further consolidates China Nerin's leading position in the lithium mine field in the industry. In the future, China Nerin will continue to focus on technological innovation as the driving force, actively integrate into the ESG construction of the mining industry, adhere to the concept of promoting smarter, more efficient, and sustainable development of the mining industry, and help the Chinese non-ferrous metal mine industry go global and participate in international competition.