Silvergill Serves as Lead Strategic Logistics Partner for Zimbabwe Lithium Rail Export Route to Maputo

The operation creates an integrated mine-to-port logistics chain linking lithium production around Gwanda with the Port of Maputo through three railway networks. By coordinating the road transfer, cross-border rail movements and port interface, the project provides Zimbabwean mineral exporters with an additional route to international markets.

Moving the long-distance portion of the journey by rail increases the volume that can be transported in each movement while reducing dependence on road haulage. The route also strengthens the Maputo Corridor’s role in regional critical-mineral logistics and demonstrates how railway operators, logistics companies and port infrastructure can be combined into a single export system.

• The route connects the Gwanda Lithium Mine in Zimbabwe with the Port of Maputo in Mozambique.
• The logistics chain begins with a 103 km road movement to the West Nicholson siding.
• BBR transports the cargo 180 km by rail from West Nicholson to Beitbridge.
• NRZ carries the cargo approximately 300 km from Beitbridge to Chicualacuala.
• CFM operates the final 540 km rail movement to the Port of Maputo.
• The combined route covers approximately 1,123 km.
• Silvergill coordinates the road, railway and port interfaces throughout the journey.
• The operation involves Gwanda Lithium Mine, BBR, NRZ, CFM, Silvergill and DP World Maputo.

Silvergill is coordinating a road, rail and port logistics chain carrying lithium concentrate more than 1,000 km from the Gwanda Lithium Mine in Zimbabwe to the Port of Maputo in Mozambique.

Zimbabwean lithium concentrate is being transported by rail from the Gwanda Lithium Mine to the Port of Maputo following the commissioning of a new rail siding at West Nicholson.

The inaugural train departed from the US$1.5 million West Nicholson Rail Siding, which was developed by Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) to support the movement of bulk mineral exports from southern Zimbabwe.

Silvergill is serving as the lead strategic logistics partner for the export operation, coordinating the multimodal movement of lithium concentrate from the mine in Zimbabwe to the port in Mozambique.

The logistics chain begins with a 103 km road haul from the Gwanda Lithium Mine to the West Nicholson siding. Cargo is then transferred to rail for a 180 km movement on the BBR network to Beitbridge.

From Beitbridge, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) transports the cargo approximately 300 km to Chicualacuala on the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border. Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) is responsible for the remaining 540 km rail journey to the Port of Maputo.

The combined road and rail route covers more than 1,000 km across Zimbabwe and Mozambique and involves coordination between the mine, Silvergill, BBR, NRZ, CFM and DP World Maputo.

Silvergill’s role includes coordinating the individual road, railway and port interfaces, providing shipment tracking and maintaining operational oversight throughout the mine-to-port journey.

The transfer of lithium concentrate from road to rail is intended to increase the volume that can be transported in each movement while reducing reliance on long-distance road haulage. The rail service is also expected to lower transport costs, reduce pressure on Zimbabwe’s road network and improve the reliability of mineral exports.

The operation establishes an additional export route for Zimbabwean mineral producers through Mozambique and strengthens the use of the Maputo Corridor for critical-mineral traffic.

The West Nicholson siding provides a transfer point between road transport serving mining operations around Gwanda and the regional railway networks connecting Zimbabwe with Mozambique.

The project brings together Gwanda Lithium Mine, BBR, NRZ, CFM, Silvergill and DP World Maputo as part of an integrated cross-border logistics arrangement serving the lithium export market.