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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
THE Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will set up a gold processing centre in Silobela in the Midlands Province as part of efforts to harness more gold from small-scale miners.
The centre, part of the Government’s efforts to boost gold production by small-scale miners, will be the second in the country after the first one was set up early this year in Bubi District in Matabeleland North.
Speaking during the launch of miners’ e-card in Shurugwi, Midlands provincial mining director Engineer Nelson Munyanduri said the move was driven by the potential by small-scale miners in the area to deliver more gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.
“Our ministry discovered the potential in small-scale miners to produce more gold ore and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product if well-equipped hence we are setting up gold milling and processing centres across the country. I am therefore happy to announce that the second one will be in Silobela in Midlands Province,” said Eng Munyanduri.
Although he did not state when construction work would begin, Eng Munyanduri said feasibility studies to identify the most suitable place for the centre were already underway.
The milling centre would be a joint venture between miners’ associations and Zimbabwe Mining Development Company while Fidelity Printers and Refiners will also be on site to buy the gold.
“The processing centre will also come along with its mining equipment like compressors, generators and pumps that the miners can use because we do not want a situation where the centre would be lying idle due to non-availability of ore,” he said.
Supporting expertise services would also be on site.
Gold is the major foreign currency earner and small-scale miners have contributed about 75 percent of the 30,2 tonnes produced to date.
Online Reporter