Sinomine Lithium Copper Plan

China’s Sinomine Resources plans to raise up to 5.2 billion yuan, or about $720 million, through a targeted share placement to support new lithium, copper, caesium and rubidium projects, reinforcing its multi-metal growth strategy across Africa and China.

Sinomine Targets Lithium Sulphate and Copper Growth

Sinomine plans to use the proceeds to fund several expansion projects, including a 100,000 t/yr lithium sulphate plant in Zimbabwe, the Kitumba copper project in Zambia, and a 2,000 t/yr caesium and rubidium products project in Jiangxi province.

The fundraising reflects Sinomine’s shift from a lithium-focused strategy into a broader battery metals and specialty metals platform. The company entered the lithium sector in 2021 through its acquisition of the Bikita lithium mine in Zimbabwe and expanded into copper in 2024 by acquiring a 65% stake in the Kitumba copper project.

Kitumba Copper Project Moves Toward 2026 Commissioning

Development work at Kitumba is progressing, with equipment procurement, civil works and installation moving forward. Sinomine aims to complete concentrator commissioning preparations, or trial production, by the third quarter of 2026, with full commissioning expected in the fourth quarter.

Smelter trial production is also targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, with full operations expected from the first quarter of 2027. The project’s mining and processing design capacity remains at 3.5 million t/yr of ore, while planned smelting capacity has been revised to 35,000 t/yr of copper cathode from a previous 60,000 t/yr.

At full capacity, Kitumba is expected to produce an average of 33,000 t/yr of copper cathode and 55,000 t/yr of copper concentrate. This gives Sinomine a clearer position in copper, a metal central to electrification, grid investment and industrial growth.

Zimbabwe Lithium Processing Gains Momentum

Sinomine’s Bikita lithium operations in Zimbabwe have already expanded following the commissioning of 2 million t/yr and 1.2 million t/yr projects in July 2023. These projects reached designed capacity and product specifications by November 2023, with lithium concentrate shipments to China continuing.

The planned lithium sulphate plant in Zimbabwe is commercially important because Chinese lithium firms are increasingly developing local processing capacity in response to Zimbabwe’s restrictions on raw feedstock exports, including its ban on concentrate exports introduced in February. Sinomine has not yet disclosed the construction timeline or commissioning schedule for the lithium sulphate project.

The company is also expanding in specialty metals through caesium and rubidium products. As a major producer of caesium and rubidium salts, Sinomine is using its integrated mining, processing and advanced materials capability to move further into higher-value products.

Market Impact

○ Impacted Metals: Lithium sulphate, lithium concentrate, copper cathode, copper concentrate, caesium salts, rubidium salts

○ Direction: Mixed

○ Time Horizon: 2026–2027

○ Affected Industries: Battery materials, electric vehicles, copper smelting, power grids, specialty chemicals, critical minerals, advanced materials manufacturing

○ Related Price Reports: Lithium Weekly Price Report, Copper Weekly Price Report

○ Watch Item: Monitor whether Sinomine confirms the construction and commissioning schedule for its 100,000 t/yr Zimbabwe lithium sulphate plant.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary
Sinomine’s fundraising plan shows how Chinese mining companies are moving beyond single-metal growth and building integrated platforms across lithium, copper and specialty metals. The copper expansion gives Sinomine exposure to electrification demand, while Zimbabwe lithium processing supports compliance with local export restrictions and strengthens downstream control.
For the market, the key point is not only new capacity but where processing takes place. Zimbabwe’s push to retain more value domestically is changing lithium supply-chain economics, and Sinomine’s investment suggests Chinese firms are adapting quickly by building more processing capacity near the resource base.