The government of Zimbabwe has banned the export ofraw lithiumto enable value addition and beneficiation in an effort to see the country benefit from the clean energy revolution.
The country has been losing millions of dollars from raw lithium exports
In this order— “lithium-bearing ore” means any mineral ore containing lithium; “unbeneficiated lithium means any lithium in whatever form that has not undergone processingto an extent that would exempt it from the payment of export tax under section 12B
https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/business/zimbabwean-lithium-ban-now-in-force/
https://finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/zimbabwe-banned-export-raw-lithium-124500633.html
Looks like there was some kind of loophole that lithium exporters weren't having to pay tax on their exports
Exemptions can be made (apply for exemption):
(2) On written application by any party—
(a) wishing to export samples of lithium-bearing ore or unbeneficiated lithium for assaying outside Zimbabwe;
or
“(b) to a miner or exporter of lithium upon production of written proof satisfactory to the Minister that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the exportation in question and that the lithium bearing ores or unbeneficiated lithium in question have been valued in terms of section 12D(3) of the Value Added Tax Act
Probably would have been smarter to just make a new law requiring companies pay tax on any lithium exports, including unbeneficiated lithium?
Edit: i dont currently hold, forgot to change the status. Used to hold back in the day
