The funding is intended to support the construction of the second lithium concentrate production plant at the Grota do Cirilo site.

A group representing UK pension funds has raised concerns about the water management at Oyu Tolgoi.

Kuvimba holds some of Zimbabwe’s best mining assets, which were once owned by a company controlled by US- and UK-sanctioned tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

The Savannah mine was part of a wider probe last year by Portuguese prosecutors into alleged illegalities in lithium and "green" hydrogen deals.

The top 10 solutions will receive a $25,000 each, become part of the Acceleration Program, and benefit from mentoring.

Lithium is important for the e-scooter maker, as it plans to locally produce lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.

The facility would have an annual capacity of 1,000 tonnes of lithium metal.