- Jena Mine Poised for Transformation as Mutapa Gold Allocates US$50 Million to Midlands Operation
- Phase One expansion targets 100kg per month as exploration accelerates and plant rehabilitation begins
Jena Mine, described by Mutapa Gold Resources CEO Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya as possessing “arguably one of the best resources in the country,” is set for a major transformation after the company allocated US$50 million from its recently secured US$125 million syndicated loan facility for the mine’s Phase One expansion, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The funding, part of a broader US$212 million expansion programme across Mutapa’s portfolio, will see Jena’s monthly gold production rise from the current 44 kilograms to 100 kilograms by 2029. The mine currently contributes about 40 kilograms per month, with production having rebounded from 17kg in January to a projected 42–43kg in April.
“We’ll use part of the money that has been oversubscribed on this fund-raise to do some work at Jena so that we increase their production from 45kg to 100kg,” Maseva-Shayawabaya said at the Shamva Hill project financing signing ceremony in Harare. “Of all our three operations, the biggest potential is with Jena.”
Immediate Priorities
Alfred Mandowe, General Manager of Jena Mine, outlined the three key areas for immediate investment:
“Primary objective is to do some exploration to the end of the year. Beyond that, we need to fix the plant,” Mandowe said. “For those who have been to Jena, the plant is a bit dilapidated. It’s an old plant. It’s also small for the capacity that we want to get to.”
The mine currently has a series of small shafts operating in a single compartment, requiring expansion to increase hoisting capacity as production scales up.
Stabilisation and Staged Expansion
Mandowe has previously indicated that the mine is undergoing a stabilisation phase requiring under US$10 million in capital this year. The current Phase One expansion is part of a staged approach:
- Stabilisation phase: Under US$10 million to ensure consistent performance.
- Interim upgrade: Approximately US$20 million to lift production to 60–80kg per month, adding one additional mill and improving underground operations.
- Full expansion: Beyond US$100 million to push output past 200kg per month.
“A full-scale expansion, we are looking at capital expenditure in excess of US$100 million, although this would not need to be deployed all at once,” Mandowe said.
Resource Potential
Jena Mine has only been developed to a depth of 250 metres despite significant untapped potential, with management describing the asset as having high-grade ore approaching 2.5 grammes per tonne. Exploration spending could rise to around US$10 million to fully delineate targets, while investment in a larger processing plant is expected to exceed US$30 million.
“With the right level of capital, exploration and development, Jena can easily become one of the largest mines in Zimbabwe,” Mandowe said.
Employment and Community Impact
The mine currently employs about 700 workers, a figure expected to rise to around 1,000 during the interim upgrade phase. However, Mandowe said the full expansion would rely more heavily on mechanisation, limiting employment growth to roughly 1,500.
Jena Mine is also set to benefit from Mutapa Gold’s artisanal mining partnership model, which is being expanded to the operation following a successful pilot at Elvington Mine. Maseva-Shayawabaya confirmed the company will continue working with artisanal miners at Jena, saying there are “adequate spaces for each other” given the mine’s 4,000-hectare tenement.
By the end of 2029, Mutapa Gold Resources expects Jena to be producing 100 kilograms per month, contributing to the group’s broader target of 570 kilograms monthly across all operations. The company produced 1,826 kilograms in the first half of 2026 and remains on track to meet its annual target of 3,400 kilograms.
