Story by Tichaona Kurewa
ZIMBABWE’S push for mineral value addition is gaining traction, with significant progress being recorded in the platinum group metals (PGMs) and lithium sectors over the past year.
In 2024, Zimbabwe’s mining sector generated a record US$5.9 billion in export earnings, up from US$5.4 billion in 2023.
This growth was largely driven by a 24% surge in gold prices.
During the Chamber of Mines Annual Conference this Friday, it emerged that mineral value addition is poised to further boost earnings.
“In the PGMs sector, following the roadmap agreed between the government and the PGMs industry, mandating PGMs matte as the minimum beneficiation threshold, I am pleased to report that the industry now has adequate smelting capacity. All concentrates are currently being processed locally. Some producers without smelters are now toll-processing their materials at Zimplats,” President Chamber of Mines’s president, Mr Thomas Gono noted.
The conference also heard encouraging updates from the lithium sector.
“I am also happy to report that, in the lithium sector, stakeholders agreed together with the Ministries of Mines and Finance that lithium sulphate will serve as the minimum beneficiation level for Zimbabwe’s lithium industry, instead of lithium carbonate as initially proposed. This shift reflects the technical reality that lithium sulphate is more economically viable from our hard rock lithium resources. Producers are already developing processing facilities expected to come online between 2026 and 2027,” Mr Gono said.
Meanwhile, government has issued a stern warning to miners causing environmental damage.
“In some coal mining areas, some public roads are completely gone. That must stop. In July this year, His Excellency will launch the Responsible Mining Initiative II, a comprehensive framework designed to tackle environmental indiscipline in the sector,” Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Winston Chitando said.
Looking ahead, the mining sector is projected to grow by 5.6% in 2025, driven by expansion projects in the gold and coal industries.
Export earnings are expected to surpass US$6 billion, buoyed by continued strong gold prices.
