The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga Senior Business Reporter
GOLD deliveries in the first quarter of the year increased by 1,2 tonnes compared to the same period last year as a result of the monitoring and surveillance exercise being carried out by the Gold Mobilisation Technical Committee (GMTC). Addressing delegates at the 77th Chamber of Mines Annual General Meeting in Victoria Falls on Friday, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Fred Moyo said the second monitoring and surveillance for 2016 was underway with teams in the field carrying out a blitz to ensure that miners remit gold to Fidelity Printers and Refineries.
The GMTC was constituted last year to find ways of increasing gold deliveries to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
“In the first quarter of 2016, gold deliveries stood at 4,6 tonnes which is an increase of 1,2 tonnes compared to the same period in 2015. Small scale miners recorded a higher increase of 54 percent for the 1,9 tonnes they have delivered,” said Deputy Minister Moyo who officially opened the AGM on behalf of Minister Walter Chidhakwa.
He said small scale sector gold deliveries have been increasing with 7,532 tonnes of gold delivered in 2015 compared to 1,7 tonnes and 3,937 tonnes in 2013 and 2014 respectively. He said measures like the establishment of Provincial Advisory Boards had been put in place to control gold leakages.
“In an effort to control gold leakages, measures like the establishment of Provincial Advisory Boards, capacitating of artisanal miners, technical capacity building, establishment of gold service centres, establishment of mobile gold buying units among others have been put in place to increase gold production,” said Deputy Minister Moyo.
Deputy Minister Moyo said the mining sector was targeting an annual production of 30 tonnes by 2018.
Meanwhile, Gold Producers Committee chairman Mr Noah Matimba said the presence of extensive gold deposits coupled with idle capacity presents an opportunity for the gold sector to increase output to over 50 tonnes by 2020.
“Existing producers have potential to increase output to 50 tonnes through improved efficiencies and expansion of current operations. In line with output growth, gold revenues will reach US$1,8 billion by 2020,” said Mr Matimba.
On chrome exports, a total of 28 840 tonnes of the mineral with a value of $2 040 540 have been exported since the Government lifted the ban on chrome ore exports last year in June.
Deputy Minister Moyo said in order to avail more chrome claims to small scale miners; the Government was in the process of engaging traditional major chrome claim holders to release some of their ground.
“Local chrome smelting companies are allowed to export raw chrome provided they have exceeded their installed capacities. Exports by smelting companies are meant for the companies to generate funds to increase their respective ferrochrome production capacities. To date, six smelting companies were granted licences to export chrome ore. Small scale miners and all those without smelters can only export through a Government Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Apple Bridge Investments,” he said.
“Apple Bridge Investments have started facilitating chrome ore exports under this facility with shipments commencing in November 2015 following repeal of the 20 percent chrome non-beneficiation levy by Treasury.”
The Chamber of Mines conference was held under the theme Revive, Accelerate and Sustain Growth — Perspectives for the Mining Industry.
