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Oliver Kazunga , Senior Business Reporter
CABINET has tasked Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando to ensure underground operations at Kamativi Mine in Matabeleland North resume as soon as possible while production at the tailings dump is also expedited.
Operations at Kamativi were stopped in 1994 due to depressed international prices of tin.
The mine, which is wholly-owned by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), is expected to re-open as a lithium multi-element ore body under a US$1,4 billion investment.
In a post-Cabinet briefing this week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, said Cabinet has noted that the two projects were significant to the US$12 billion mining industry by 2023.
“The Minister of Mines and Mining Development briefed Cabinet on the current state of the tailings dump and reopening of underground operations at Kamativi Tin Mines.
Cabinet noted the need to ensure that these two projects get into production as soon as possible so that they contribute to the US$12 billion mining industry,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Minister Chitando was tasked to follow up on the issues accordingly.
In 2019, President Mnangagwa launched the US$12 billion mining industry roadmap and gold is expected to contribute US$4 billion, platinum US$3 billion while chrome, iron, steel, diamonds and coal will contribute US$1 billion each.
Lithium is expected to contribute US$500 million while other minerals will contribute US$1,5 billion.
Exploration works at Kamativi were expected to be completed this month through a joint venture initiative between ZMDC and a Chinese firm, Pude Times.
ZMDC general manager, Mr Blessed Chitambira, is on record saying depending on the exploration results, the mine should be fully operational by the end of 2023 with the project expected to create about 400 jobs directly.
Meanwhile, Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet also considered the need to get the Todal-Bokai Platinum Project next to Unki Mine into production as soon as possible so that it contributes to the US$12 billion mining industry revenue.
She said Minister Chitando also updated Cabinet on the progress and initiatives to allocate mining claims to Youths and War Veterans in line with Government policy.
“The Minister of Mines and Mining Development updated Cabinet on the ferrochrome sector since the ban on the exports of raw chrome ore,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet resolved to continue with the ban and at the same time to support all those ferrochrome producers who are expanding capacity.
Online Reporter