“It’s clear, there is lithium. The world’s first place in its reserves and exports. This is something that no economy of any country can go without” said Markov.
Lithium cannot be overemphasized indeed. For example, it is used in the auto industry for battery production for electric vehicles. Zimbabwean local media reported about Lukashenka’s interest in it, despite its rise in value and apart from tractors’ and harvesters’ export.
Although Marat Makarov exaggerates the share of Zimbabwe in the world’s lithium reserves. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s report published in January, 2023, the largest producers of lithium are Australia, Chile and China. Zimbabwe finds itself in 6th place. However, Lithium exploration is being carried out worldwide. For now the largest deposits are located in Bolivia, Argentina and the USA. Zimbabwe ranks in the second ten.
The fake appeared amid talks about Lukashenka negotiating about Lithium in favor of Russia, where the production of lithium-ion batteries is under threat there due to the western sanctions. Nonetheless, lithium deposits in Russia are larger than those in Zimbabwe, although they haven’t been developed yet.