Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba
THE Government has pledged its full support for Mimosa Mining Company’s long-term sustainability strategy, which includes extending the mine’s life to over 15 years, enhancing beneficiation, and investing in renewable energy to boost operational resilience.
Global decline in metal prices over the past three years has resulted in significant revenue losses for major mining companies, including Mimosa, with a 40 percent reduction impacting the mine’s lifespan and operations.
However, in a bid to extend the mine’s life beyond 15 years and stimulate the mining economy, the Government has committed to backing Mimosa’s life of mine (LoM) expansion plans. As part of its sustainability initiatives, Mimosa is also planning to install a 38MW solar plant to supplement its energy needs and support national decarbonisation efforts under the National Renewable Energy Policy.
The mine’s integrated approach, which combines LoM extension, infrastructure investment, and a transition to green energy, has been cited as a model for resilient and responsible mining in the country’s evolving extractives sector. This development follows a high-level visit to the Zvishavane-based platinum group metals producer by senior Government officials, led by Minister of Mines and Mining Development Cde Winston Chitando and Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube on Friday.
To gain an appreciation of the ongoing operations and the tailings storage facility, the ministers toured the mine.
In an interview at the mine, Minister Chitando applauded the mine’s capital investment profile, noting that it reflects a forward-looking approach anchored on sustainability and alignment with the country’s US$12 billion mining sector target.
“We are here as Government to chart a sustainable way forward. The commissioning of critical infrastructure such as the optimisation plant and tailings storage facility demonstrates Mimosa’s commitment to long-term value creation and economic development,” said Minister Chitando.
He commended the mine’s proactive investment, particularly the recent completion of a US$38 million optimisation plant and a US$78 million tailings storage facility.
“We are here as Government to deliberate on sustainable solutions. The completion of key infrastructure such as the optimisation plant and tailings facility clearly demonstrates Mimosa’s commitment to national economic development. The Government is committed to assisting the mine increase its life so that they maintain production and productivity in line with attaining the upper middle-income economy by 2030,” said Minister Chitando.
Professor Ncube underscored the Government’s willingness to facilitate the development of a new resource base, an initiative expected to unlock an additional 12 to 15 years of production.
“We visited Mimosa Mining Company, which is one of the largest PGM producers in the country. One of the reasons we are here is that we heard about some of the challenges they face, and one of them is that the resource they have is likely to last the next eight years. We are aware that they want to try and use the resource nearby, and they want Government support to make sure that the life of the mine is extended,” he said.
The mine employs over 3 000 workers and Prof Ncube said he was impressed to note that they are also increasing the number of women miners and supporting SMEs.
Mimosa Managing Director, Mr Fungai Makoni, welcomed the engagement, describing the Government’s intervention as timely given the global headwinds affecting the sector.
“We are grateful to Government for stepping in at such a critical moment. The volatility in PGM prices over the past three years has eroded up to 40 percent of our revenue base, directly impacting operational viability and shortening the remaining life of the mine. This support will be pivotal in enabling us to ramp up production efficiency and secure long-term sustainability,” said Mr Makoni.
Despite the depressed metal prices, Mimosa has remained focused on optimisation, having recently commissioned a US$38 million plant upgrade and a US$78 million tailings storage facility, key infrastructure aimed at improving throughput and tailings management in line with global best practice.
