adminThe mining indaba started in Harare on Wednesday and ends today. The annual event, in its fourth year, this year was focusing on ways to unlock and boost investment in mining.
Mr Nkomo was confident that small-scale miners would clinch deals during the event like in previous events.
“We have had many partnerships created out of this indaba since it started. We are hopeful this year it will be the same,” he said.
Mr Nkomo said a number of small-scale partners were taking part at the indaba which attracted participants from the region.
He said the indaba was an important event for the mining sector as it provided an opportunity for miners and potential investors to interact and exchange ideas.
Zimbabwe is endowed with vast mineral resources, some of which are lying unexploited.
Small-scale miners are major players in the industry and the bulk of gold in the country is produced by up-and-coming miners.
However, most miners lack resources to buy equipment to enable them to exploit minerals efficiently.
Meanwhile, New Ziana reports that the Chamber of Mines said the country did not require a platinum refinery at the moment because production of the mineral was still low.
The country’s three platinum miners, Zimplats, Mimosa and Unki, currently ship the mineral to South Africa for processing.
But they are coming under increasing pressure to process the mineral locally, partly to enable the country to account for associated minerals.
Chamber of Mines president Mr Winston Chitando told the mining indaba that platinum miners were not producing enough raw materials to sustain a refinery.
Other officials in the platinum industry said issues such as availability of critical inputs such as electricity would also need to be addressed before a refinery is set up.
Zimbabwe faces a perennial electricity deficit, forcing power rationing countrywide, something that would badly affect the refinery.
Mines Minister Obert Mpofu confirmed that discussions were on-going between the Platinum Producers Association over the possible establishment of a refinery in the country.
He said exports of unprocessed minerals were being discouraged as it did not benefit the economy in any way.
Online Reporter