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Small scale gold producers contributed the bulk of gold produced in the country during the third quarter of the year, the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (ZimStat) has reported.
In its Index of Mineral Production for July, August and September made available this week, ZimStat said of the 8 602kg of gold produced, small scale producers, that include artisanal miners popularly known as makorokoza, contributed 60 percent.
Large scale producers contributed 36 percent while secondary producers came in with four percent with the total production placing the Index for Gold at 123.5, reflecting a 0.39 percent increase from the 123.0 recorded in the second quarter.
Overall, the third quarter Index of Mineral Production stood at 139.9, reflecting a year-on-year percentage decrease of 5.2 against 147.6 recorded during the same period last year.
The quarter-on-quarter comparison shows the index decreasing by 3.0 percent from 144.3 in the second quarter to 139.9.
Diamond recorded a lower output index of 224.5 from 288.2 during the same quarter last year, resulting in a percentage decrease of 22.1 and a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 14.02.
“The 3rd quarter 2023 output index for coal was 325.1, up from 264.0 recorded in 3rd quarter 2022, signifying a year-on-year percentage increase of 23.1.
“Quarter-on-quarter analysis showed the output index decreasing by 29.6 percent from 461.6 recorded in 2nd quarter 2023,” said the report.
“The output index for copper was 172.7, up from 143.8 recorded in 3rd quarter 2022, leading to a year-on-year increase of 20.1 percent. The quarter-on-quarter comparison showed a 21.9 percent increase in the output index.
“Lithium production index for 3rd quarter 2023 was 715.4, depicting a year-on-year increase of 215.8 percent from 226.5 in 3rd quarter 2022.
“Production increased from 24 376mt to 113 292mt in 3rd quarter 2023, bringing about a quarter-on-quarter percentage increase of 364.8.”
The third quarter production index for granite stood at 754.3, recording a year-on-year percentage increase of 134.8 from 321.3 in same quarter last year, placing the quarter-on-quarter index increase of 82.2 percent from 414.1 recorded during the second quarter.
Nickel output index was 105.0, reflecting a year-on-year percentage decrease of 4.0 from 109.4 recorded in the same quarter last year. It also showed a quarter-on-quarter production index percentage increase of 7.6. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter