Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has urged players in the mining sector to adapt and embrace technological advancements being witnessed globally to increase productivity and expand mineral beneficiation and value addition.
President Mnangagwa was speaking at the official opening of the Mine Entra conference, which is being held under the theme ‘Unearthing Success: The Mining Value Chains, Innovation and Industrialisation Nexus’
“I was impressed by the quality of products and exhibits from the many local exhibitors as well as international firms. This is a reflection that the Expo has grown to be a credible platform for connecting industry stakeholders, Congratulations.
“As you are aware, everything we depend on is either made from minerals or relies on minerals for its production. Minerals, from rare earth elements to gold, platinum and lithium, are the building blocks of modern societies, with micro components of smartphones and larger modern materials required for electric vehicle manufacturing and renewable energy systems, all dependent on the mining sector,” he said.
He said technology ensure the exploitation of new and more complex mineral deposits, increases productivity and precision in exploration and extraction processes which allows for remote operations, reduced waste, improved equipment utilisation as well as lower maintenance costs, among others.
“The urgent challenge, therefore, is not only to produce more but to also produce better. The benefits of mining should extend beyond mere extractive processes to positively impact communities and the planet as a whole. To ensure long-term viability, innovation has a critical role in the mining sector and must be scaled up. The innovation and technology nexus should result in not only improved efficiencies, reduced costs and adherence to the concerns of communities and regulatory authorities but the accelerated industrialisation and modernisation of our country.
“This is more so, given that we are currently living in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where the world is changing faster than before, characterised by new ground-breaking technologies which are pushing the boundaries of the way we live. As we look into the future, the mining industry will, by and large, affect every facet of our society. The mining sector, thus, has a responsibility to urgently and appropriately adapt,” said the President.
He said the nation expects spinoffs from mining into other sectors such as manufacturing, construction and agriculture, among others, which will, in turn, promote rapid industrialisation of our country.
President Mnangagwa said localised value chains must stimulate long-term economic growth, diversification and regional development through value added processing and manufacturing.
“Bold decisions must be taken within the sector for the requisite transformative upward and downstream linkages to speed up the expansion of mineral beneficiation and value addition.
“In this regard, mining houses are challenged to strengthen synergies with suppliers, inclusive of institutions of higher learning, for the development of technological solutions, methods, and techniques in mining projects and operations. This will allow for symbiotic relationships with mining suppliers who have intensive local knowledge and capable of providing customised solutions for mining entities,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said new frontiers such as electro-mobility, invisible zero-waste mining,and continuous mining, among others should equally be prioritised while the employment of Artificial Intelligence in research and development, with regards engineering design, quantification of mineral deposits, smart mining and market forecasting, is also encouraged.
President Mnangagwa further reiterated that the sector has a duty to protect the environment for both present and future generations.
“Mining houses and other stakeholders have the obligation to commit to strict adherence to environmental regulations while maintaining the social licence to operate.
“In this regard, mining companies are urged to continue developing cleaner and more environmentally friendly solutions in the whole value chain of the business, as well as improve the efficiency and reliability of their processes. You are also called upon to work concertedlyto prudently use energy and water as well as lower emissions and waste generation,” he said.
He commended mining houses that have invested in renewable energy, such as solar, saying it marks a significant shift in reducing their carbon footprint.
“Players in the mining industry are urged to invest in projects and activities that increase production and productivity among communities over and above others that attend to the infrastructure, education and healthcare needs of our people for mutually beneficial relationships.
“I exhort those in leadership positions including those in the political sphere and in line Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to always think of the people first and act in the national interest. Our God given minerals and natural resources Zimbabweans endowments must benefit all,” he said.
He said the Second Republic will continue to leverage the mining sector to support broader industrial and technological advancements. “The mining sector is welcome to dialogue with my Government to improve the environment, guided by global trends as well as the needs of our economy and communities. Policy frameworks that provide incentives for linkage development, catalyse investments in skills development and access to capital, among others, will be constantly reviewed.
“Additional incentives and support will also be provided to companies that invest in local beneficiation and value addition. This will make it more attractive for companies to process their minerals in Zimbabwe rather than exporting them raw. I challenge you to take pride in procuring goods and services from local suppliers in line with our Local Content Policy and Buy Zimbabwe Campaign towards growing the domestic economy and creating jobs,” he said.
Through the implementation of these and other measures President Mnangagwa said the nation will be able to attain the Africa Mining Vision of “Transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and socio-economic development” across the continent.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter