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Business Reporter
GOVERNMENT intends to establish a tantalite buying centre modelled along the same lines as Fidelity Printers and Refiners, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa. Tantalite is a black mineral found in granite rocks and mostly used in the electronics industry. It is used for the manufacturing of electronic capacitors for cell-phones and laptop computer chips, among others.
“We need it (marketing of the tantalite) to be democratic as gold,” said Minister Chidhwakwa while briefing the 15th ZANU PF Annual People’s Conference last Friday.
Fidelity Printers and Refiners is a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and solely responsible for buying gold from small and large scale miners. Minister Chidhakwa said tantalite, alongside chrome and gold were strategic to the country economic development.
As such, orderly marketing of the mineral would ensure the country fully maximize income from the mineral. According to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, tantalite could provide opportunities for value addition and beneficiation in light of growing information and communication technology industry.
Due to worldwide demand, prices for tantalite occasionally soar to hundreds of dollars per kg.
Zimbabwe has tantalite deposits in Seke communal lands, Marondera, Mberengwa, Murehwa, Mutoko, Masvingo, and Buhera. The mineral is often smuggled to the DRC for sale.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter