Kuvimba Mining House (KMH)-owned Jena Mines has demonstrated a robust operational recovery, reporting a significant 25 percent surge in gold production for the quarter ended 30 September 2025. The impressive quarterly performance signals a positive turnaround after a slower previous period, though a half-year comparison reveals the challenges the operation has faced over the broader period, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The latest production figures, seen by Mining Zimbabwe, show output rose to 3,086 ounces in the three months to September — a substantial increase from the 2,476 ounces produced in the quarter ended 30 June 2025. This quarter-on-quarter growth of 24.6 percent underscores a successful ramp-up in operational activity. The combined output for the half-year ended 30 September 2025 reached 5,562 ounces.
However, when viewed against the previous year’s performance, the data tells a more complex story. The half-year total of 5,562 ounces represents a decrease of 14.4 percent compared to the 6,494 ounces achieved in the equivalent half-year period ended 30 September 2024. This year-on-year dip highlights the impact of the mine’s slower start to the calendar year. The recent strong quarterly growth, however, suggests that management’s interventions are effectively steering the operation back on track. This performance follows a particularly productive first half of the 2025 calendar year, when Jena Mines reported a production of 11,092 ounces for the period ended 31 March.
Industry analysts suggest this volatile production profile is not uncommon for mining operations navigating issues such as fluctuating ore grades and plant availability. The decisive quarter-on-quarter rebound at Jena is being viewed as a positive indicator of resolving such temporary setbacks. This performance aligns with the wider strategic narrative communicated by Kuvimba Mining House, which has publicly emphasized a focus on optimizing existing assets through improved plant recovery rates and processing efficiencies rather than immediate large-scale capital expansion.
A company statement from KMH earlier in the year alluded to this strategy, noting that “overall gold production is expected to remain stable, with potential increases driven by enhanced processing efficiency.” The 25 percent production jump at Jena Mines in the last quarter appears to be a direct reflection of this focused operational approach, possibly through the beneficiation of higher-grade ore sections or completed minor plant upgrades.
The performance of Jena Mines contributes to the broader picture of Zimbabwe’s gold sector — a critical anchor for the national economy. The sector has been on a general upward trajectory, with the country having surpassed its 2024 production target after a record delivery from both large-scale and artisanal miners. As one of the significant operations in the Midlands Province, Jena’s return to strong quarterly growth under the KMH umbrella will be a key metric watched by investors and industry stakeholders alike, who will be keen to see if this momentum can be sustained through the remainder of the financial year.
