Sandawana Mines (Private) Limited (“Sandawana”) is a lithium mining company which is a subsidiary of Kuvimba Mining House (Private) Limited (“Kuvimba”).
Sandawana has exclusive and unencumbered mining rights in Mberengwa covering an area of 3,882 hectares.
Since 1956, Sandawana Mines (“Sandawana Mine” or “Mine”) was known as a producer of high-quality emeralds.
With the discovery of lithium and following an extensive exploration program under the new ownership of Kuvimba, Sandawana has strategically shifted its focus from emeralds to lithium.
Early indications at the Mine are that there is over 100 million tons of lithium ore available within the Mine’s mining location.
The exploration process undertaken by Sandawana has been divided into four (4) phases. A Phase 1 Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code compliant report is to be availed by the technical partners soon
An estimated resource of at least twenty-six million (26 million) tons is expected to be determined from the Phase 1 exploration. Phase 2 exploration is now underway.
Mine Operation
Sandawana is in the process of developing the Mine into a fully integrated lithium mining and processing operation. The first concentration plant will have a feed capacity of three million (3 million) tons of ore per year.
The plant is expected to be commissioned in December 2024. After commissioning, a second train will be added to the process to increase the feed capacity to six million (6 million) tons of ore per year.
Sandawana Mine is concurrently undertaking exploration activities and operating an open cast mine. Over the last 10 months, 900,000 tons of ore have been mined and stockpiled.
The market value of the current stockpile is worth approximately one hundred and twenty-six million USD (US$126 million) in the international markets at current prices.
To augment Sandawana’s efforts to deliver a fully integrated lithium mining and processing operation, the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe granted Sandawana a licence to export its lithium ore while developing its mining and processing capacity.
This is in line with the Government’s policy to facilitate value addition and beneficiation as set out in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The proceeds from the fund raise will be used primarily to expand the open cast mining operation, to construct a concentration plant and to improve the civil infrastructure (including roads and power) for the Mine
Business Case
Biggest lithium deposit in Zimbabwe.
Claim area is 38.82 square kilometres.
The mining lease and claim holdings cover a 21km long strip along the Mweza Hills
Sandawana Mine is a world class high-grade lithium deposit located in Mberengwa district with total claims covering an area of 3882 hectares on the Mweza mountain range.
Other minerals found in the lease area include emeralds, tantalite, gold and mica.
Exploration in Sandawana is being carried out in 4 phases.
After phase 3 exploration Sandawana Mine is poised to be a world class deposit and the biggest in Zimbabwe with a resource estimated to exceed 100 million tons of ore.
