Mutapa Energy Resources announce 40 million tonne lithium deposit at Sandawana Mine

29By Nigel PfundeHarare- In a landmark development for Zimbabwe’s mining sector, Sandawana Mine—operating under Mutapa Energy Resources—has made history by becoming the country’s first lithium mine to achieve a ‘measured’ resource constituting an unprecedented 72 percent of its total declared resource.The milestone follows the announcement of an independently verified, JORC-compliant 40 million-tonne lithium resource estimate, distinguishing Sandawana’s potential through internationally recognised reporting standards that drastically reduce geological uncertainty for global investors.​ Mutapa Energy Resources Chief Executive Innocent Rukweza highlighted the historic significance of the high-confidence certification.“It is my singular honour to announce that, to the best of our knowledge, we are the first Zimbabwean mine with measured resources constituting 72 percent of our total resource,” Rukweza said.Under the JORC Code, the ‘Measured’ category represents the highest possible level of geological confidence, transforming the resource declaration into a highly credible asset suitable for major financing decisions.Rukweza also said that the certification means the estimate has been independently validated by a competent person.“It passes the test because it was measured by a competent person. It means it becomes bankable, it is auditable and investors can now have a look at that.”​This breakthrough stems from an intensive 11-month exploration programme involving 103 000 metres of drilling and the analysis of 33 000 samples at a cost of US$24 million.Notably, the certified 40 million-tonne estimate covers just 30 percent of the Sandawana mining concession, leaving immense upside for future growth.“The results relate only to 30 percent of Sandawana Mine. Seventy percent remains unexplored,” said Rukweza.

Beyond lithium, the rigorous exploration phase also confirmed economically recoverable quantities of strategic high-tech minerals, specifically tantalum and niobium.​The rigorous verification reflects the strong commitment of the Mutapa Investment Fund to transparency, accountability and responsible resource reporting.By subjecting the property to independent JORC verification rather than relying solely on internal figures, the Fund has provided investors, financiers and the public with a bankable foundation. Sandawana is already translating these geological results into operational momentum, having mined two million tonnes of ore and commenced construction of a three-million-tonne-per-year lithium concentrator plant.Infrastructure development is actively underway to pave the way for expansion, including road construction and the relocation of 104 families alongside a new school and clinic.​Looking ahead, exploration is intensifying across the rest of the concession. Geochemical and geophysical surveys are set to begin on Blocks B and C, which make up the unexplored 70 percent of the property.Concurrently, Mutapa is investing an additional US$18 million into Block A for 93,500 metres of further drilling aimed at expanding the current 40 million-tonne baseline.“We want to upgrade our resource from the current 39.9 million tonnes to up to 90 million tonnes, if possible, from the results that we are going to get.

And this is just on Block A,” Rukweza explained. Ultimately, the declaration firmly reinforces Zimbabwe’s position among emerging global lithium producers, anchored by a level of resource certainty rarely seen in early-stage developments.As Rukweza summarized, “If you forget everything, just remember that at Sandawana there are 40 million tonnes of independently assessed, certified lithium.”MutapaenergyresourcesSandawanamine innocentrukweza Harare- In a landmark development for Zimbabwe’s mining sector, Sandawana Mine—operating under Mutapa Energy Resources—has made history by becoming the country’s first lithium mine to achieve a ‘measured’ resource constituting an unprecedented 72 percent of its total declared resource. The milestone follows the announcement of an independently verified, JORC-compliant 40 million-tonne lithium resource estimate, distinguishing Sandawana’s potential through internationally recognised reporting standards that drastically reduce geological uncertainty for global investors.

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​ Mutapa Energy Resources Chief Executive Innocent Rukweza highlighted the historic significance of the high-confidence certification. “It is my singular honour to announce that, to the best of our knowledge, we are the first Zimbabwean mine with measured resources constituting 72 percent of our total resource,” Rukweza said. Under the JORC Code, the ‘Measured’ category represents the highest possible level of geological confidence, transforming the resource declaration into a highly credible asset suitable for major financing decisions.

Rukweza also said that the certification means the estimate has been independently validated by a competent person. It means it becomes bankable, it is auditable and investors can now have a look at that.”​This breakthrough stems from an intensive 11-month exploration programme involving 103 000 metres of drilling and the analysis of 33 000 samples at a cost of US$24 million. Notably, the certified 40 million-tonne estimate covers just 30 percent of the Sandawana mining concession, leaving immense upside for future growth.

“The results relate only to 30 percent of Sandawana Mine. Beyond lithium, the rigorous exploration phase also confirmed economically recoverable quantities of strategic high-tech minerals, specifically tantalum and niobium.​The rigorous verification reflects the strong commitment of the Mutapa Investment Fund to transparency, accountability and responsible resource reporting. Sandawana is already translating these geological results into operational momentum, having mined two million tonnes of ore and commenced construction of a three-million-tonne-per-year lithium concentrator plant. Infrastructure development is actively underway to pave the way for expansion, including road construction and the relocation of 104 families alongside a new school and clinic.

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