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Tsingshan to produce, lithium, cement, electricity

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Tsingshan to produce, lithium, cement, electricity

The Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Winston Chitando on behalf of Zimbabwe signed an agreement with Tsingshan Holdings Group, which will see the company expanding its operations in Zimbabwe.

Rudairo Mapuranga

Tsingshan, one of the world’s top nickel producers, is currently building a $1 billion stainless steel plant in Manhize near Chivhu. The company also has a coking coal operation and a ferrochrome smelter in Zimbabwe, which has some of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium reserves.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding at the state house yesterday, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa said the group will expand its operations to cement and lithium concentrate production as well as scaling up coke and ferrochrome production.

“Tsingshan Holding Group is set to expand its current operations. This will see the company embark on the production of cement and lithium concentrate as well as scaling up coke and ferrochrome production among other mining and lithium processing projects,” President Mnangagwa said.

Tsingshan’s founder, Chinese tycoon Xiang Guangda, oversaw the signing of an outline agreement for Tsingshan’s planned expansion projects said apart from expanding to cement and lithium concentrate production, Tsingshan was going to look for solutions to generate electricity.

“We have discovered that there are power challenges, as a group, we will look for solutions to generate electricity for our projects as well as for the national grid,” Guangda said.

Speaking at the signing ceremony Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Winston Chitando gave a more detailed scope of the project to be undertaken by Tsingshan,

“The project currently underway in Manhize will see 600 thousand tonnes of carbon steel production, the two projects at Dinson Colliery includes a coke battery with 150 thousand tonnes capacity when operational, the other 180 thousand tonnes capacity per annum. The signing of this MoU provides for the following, 5 million tonnes per annum of carbon steel production, 5 million tonnes per annum of coke production from the current capacity, and 500 thousand tonnes per annum ferrochrome production compared to the current 150 thousand in Selous. Tsingshan is currently constructing a 100km power line.

“In terms of the provision of the MoU, they will add to the production and processing of copper, they will from the iron slag produce a target cement of 1 million tonnes, they will construct a lithium concentrate plant with a minimum of 3 million tonnes per annum. They will construct a railway line to the port in Mozambique,” the Minister said.

Official gold buying prices Monday 28 October 2022

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Official gold buying prices Monday 28 October 2022

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices Monday 28 October 2022.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$53.34/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$52.50/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$51.94/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$51.37/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$50.53/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH US$53.34/g

NB: Fire Assay cash price is for gold above 100gs and no sample is deducted.
For the Fire Assay Transfer price, a sample of not more than 10g is deducted
A 2% royalty is charged on all deposits (Small-scale Miners)
A 5% royalty is charged to Primary Producers

Cash available. Fidelity Gold Refinery prices will be changing daily in relation to world market prices.

Canadian company eyes gold investments in Zim, awaits gvt approval

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Canadian company eyes gold investments in Zim, awaits gvt approval

Zephyr Minerals Ltd is waiting for two Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPO) applied for in 2021 in Zimbabwe to be granted.

The EPO applications are in the final stage of processing which, upon completion will be submitted to the President of Zimbabwe for approval and signature. Timing remains uncertain, however, the Company is hopeful that they will be granted by year-end. The two EPO applications combined cover approximately 124,000 hectares of mineral prospective areas.

Concurrently, the Company is continuing to evaluate mineral properties in Zimbabwe for potential acquisition, option or joint venture. A number of high-potential mineral properties have been identified which are in various stages of negotiation. Preference is given to gold properties with the potential for high-tonnage open pit resources.

In the second quarter, the Company entered into an option agreement to acquire a 75% interest in the 40-hectare Chikonga Gold Mine Property from a privately owned arm’s length Zimbabwe company.

The agreement is subject to satisfactory due diligence which is anticipated to be concluded early in Q1- 2023.

Following a review of relevant technical data, the Company elected to abandon low-priority areas of its Colorado holdings, thereby reducing its total number of unpatented claims from 140 to 78. In addition, on November 7, 2022, the Company entered into a sale agreement with an arm’s length third party with respect to the 10-acre patented claim at Green Mountain. Based on the current Dawson mine permitting exercise it has become evident that the sulphidic mineralization at Green Mountain would be problematic to permit for treatment at Dawson where the mineralization is environmentally benign in comparison. As such, the Company’s focus in Colorado will be the high-priority areas which are being retained, being the core holdings at the Dawson and El Plomo sections of the property portfolio. The property will henceforth be referred to as the Dawson-El Plomo property.

About Zephyr Minerals Ltd

Zephyr Minerals Ltd. is active in mineral exploration in Colorado, USA and Zimbabwe. In Colorado Zephyr has been focused on mine permitting activities at its 100% owned Dawson gold property, which is presently in hiatus pending the collection and submission of additional water well data and satisfying certain other environmental-related questions. The additional required water wells are still in the planning stage and will be drilled once available funds are in hand. Upon collection of the additional data, the Company plans to reapply for a mining permit at Dawson.

In Zimbabwe, the Company is working to build a mineral property portfolio and to this end has applied for two Exclusive Prospecting Orders covering 124,000 hectares. Zephyr is actively assessing additional mineral opportunities in Zimbabwe on an ongoing basis. Zimbabwe boasts favourable foreign ownership rules for mineral properties as well as prospective, underexplored Archean greenstone belts.

Official gold buying prices Monday 28 October 2022

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Official gold buying prices Monday 28 October 2022

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices Monday 28 October 2022.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$53.50/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$52.66/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$52.09/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$51.53/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$50.69/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH US$53.50/g

NB: Fire Assay cash price is for gold above 100gs and no sample is deducted.
For the Fire Assay Transfer price, a sample of not more than 10g is deducted
A 2% royalty is charged on all deposits (Small-scale Miners)
A 5% royalty is charged to Primary Producers

Cash available. Fidelity Gold Refinery prices will be changing daily in relation to world market prices.

Miners urged to prioritize ESG

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Miners urged to prioritize ESG

The government has urged mining companies to prioritize issues of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to ensure that communities benefit significantly from Mining activities in their areas.

Rudairo Mapuranga

This call has come after various communities have raised a red flag and demanded change on matters of sustainable mining.

Through his 2023 National Budget Statement presented to the Parliament of Zimbabwe at the new parliament building in Mt Hampden last week Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said miners were required to invest in ESG to ensure communities benefit as well as that the environment will not be left in a degradation state after mining.

“Miners are required to prioritise Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues for communities to fully benefit from mining activities in their areas. This will enable investors to deliver sustainability (cultural and heritage) and contribute to the empowerment of communities, stakeholder engagement and awareness to environmental impacts,” Prof Ncube said.

Earlier this year, President Emerson Mnangagwa urged the mining industry to prioritize issues ESG for communities to fully benefit from the minerals mines in their areas.

The President said that many miners were not prioritizing mine rehabilitation which has become a cancer, with the first citizen personally witnessing many uncovered pits around the country.

It has been proven that communities are no longer ignorant on matters of sustainability and are demanding change while at the same time investors and financial institutions seek to put the onus back on businesses to make them more inclusive, socially responsible, and sustainable. Compliance, therefore, emerges as a critical factor to drive change and the call to action lies with governments to enforce regulations and benchmarks.

President Mnangagwa also called on mining companies to go green in their operations to preserve the environment for future use.

“It is mining expectation that mining houses now begin to green their operations through responsible mining towards low carbon emissions and sustainable mining.

Sometimes as I fly around I see many places where miners would have dug holes without rehabilitation. So please don’t invite the government to create draconian legislation to force you to green and maintain your areas of operation,” President Mnangagwa said.

“Further the emerging Environment, Social and Governance thrust in the mining sector, now demands that mining houses create real benefits for the communities in which they are operating. Over and above supporting livelihoods, it is also necessary for you in the sector to invest in the protection of the environment, while building long term community resilience. In this endeavour, capacity building for mining sector professionals in Environment, Social and Governance must be given due attention.” the President said.

Gold panners driving child marriages, teenage pregnancies

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Gold panners driving child marriages, teenage pregnancies

Areas with a high concentration of gold miners have the highest number of child marriages and teenage pregnancies in Zimbabwe, a new research has revealed.

A survey on child marriages conducted by Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) showed that illegal gold miners trigger child marriages.

Revealing the preliminary findings on the national enquiry on sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls and child marriages, ZGC chairperson Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe said gold panners lured young girls with luxuries and money in return for sex.

“In Mashonaland East — Mudzi district, wards 13, 14, 15 and 18 are considered hotspots for child marriages and sexual exploitation mainly due to gold panning activities in these areas. The gold panners lure young girls with “nice things” and end up impregnating them,” Mukahanana-Sangarwe said.

“In Matabeleland South — Umzingwane district, teen pregnancies are usually a result of child marriages. Amakorokoza activities include sexual relationships with girls and young women.”

She also said some areas of Gweru were hotspots for child marriages due to poverty and the prevalence of gold panners.

“In Midlands province, Gweru rural district areas such as St Faith and Shamrock are popular gold panning areas. Children as young as 13 years are involved in sex work at St Faith shops, where there is gold panning,” she said.

“Poverty was cited as a major push factor which made the girls vulnerable, resulting in children running away from their homes. Parents in the area are not valuing education.”

Mukahanana-Sangarwe expressed concern over two nine-year-old girls who were impregnated in the country, and urged Parliament to monitor the implementation of the Marriage Act.

Newsday

Government introduces a Loan fund for small-scale miners

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Government introduces a Loan fund for small-scale miners

The government of Zimbabwe in an endeavour to enable the growth and development of Artisanal and Small scale miners (ASM), will establish the Mining Industry Loan Fund to support miners through mining established loans and plant and equipment hire loan schemes.

Rudairo Mapuranga

The ASM has continued to show its relevance to economic revival with the sector currently contributing over 67 per cent of gold deliveries to the country’s sole gold buyer and exporter Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR).

According to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof Mthuli Ncube in his 2023 National Budget Statement presented to the Parliament of Zimbabwe yesterday the ASM continue to dominate the mining industry therefore it was of paramount importance that the government supports them for economic revival as well as responsible sourcing.

He said the National Budget will support the establishment of the Gold Service Centre as part of a drive to promote the formalization of the ASM as well as the curbing of illicit financial flows.

“The mining sector, especially the gold sector, is dominated by artisanal and small-scale miners operating informally. The sub-sector contributes significantly to gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refineries, employs a significant number of workers and is a source of livelihood for rural communities.

“Therefore, Government will continue to assist the small-scale miners to adopt environmentally friendly, safe and sustainable mining methods.

“The 2023 National Budget will support the establishment of Gold Service Centres as part of the drive to promote the formalisation of activities of the artisanal and small-scale miners, with a target of having five fully established centres by the end of 2023. The centres will be located in areas of high activity by small-scale miners to facilitate ease of processing and marketing of gold.

“Further support will be extended to the Mining Industry Loan Fund to support small-scale miners through mining establishment loans and plant and equipment hire loan schemes,” Prof Mthuli Ncube said.

Official gold buying prices Friday 25 October 2022

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Official gold buying prices Friday 25 October 2022

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) official gold buying prices Friday 25 October 2022.

SG 90% AND ABOVE US$53.61/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% US$52.76/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% US$52.20/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% US$51.64/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g US$50.79/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH US$53.61/g

NB: Fire Assay cash price is for gold above 100gs and no sample is deducted.
For the Fire Assay Transfer price, a sample of not more than 10g is deducted
A 2% royalty is charged on all deposits (Small-scale Miners)
A 5% royalty is charged to Primary Producers

Cash available. Fidelity Gold Refinery prices will be changing daily in relation to world market prices.

$1.6 billion set aside for Cadastre rollout

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$1.6 billion set aside for Cadastre rollout

The government of Zimbabwe has set aside an amount of $1.6 billion under the 2023 National Budget to ensure that the mining Cadastre information management system is online for the rest of the country next year.

Anerudo Mapuranga

Through the National Budget Statement presented to the Parliament of Zimbabwe yesterday, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Prof Mthuli Ncube said the rollout of the Mining Cadastre system was in its final stages with data capturing in progress.

Prof Mthuli Ncube said the pilot project in Manicaland is working effectively and the government targets to make the whole country go online next year.

“Government is now into the final stages of completing the computerised mining cadastre system. Data capturing is in progress, while work on the platform for clients to apply online for the mining title is at an advanced stage.

“Manicaland is now operating online, with the target for the rest of the mining provinces in the country to be online in 2023.

“Accordingly, in support of the aforesaid programme, an amount of ZWL$1.6 billion has been set aside under the 2023 National Budget,” Prof Mthuli Ncube said.

Once operational, the cadastre system will enhance transparency and accountability in mining title management, by eliminating overlapping mining claims, strengthening property rights and security of tenure within the mining sector. It will also improve the government’s regulatory capacity through improved efficiency and revenue collection.

NEC rates of pay for the Mining Industry Oct – Dec 2022

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NEC rates of pay for the Mining Industry Oct – Dec 2022

The National Employment Council (NEC) for the Mining Industry has published the new minimum rates of pay for grades 1-13 were agreed upon in dual currency (US Dollars & ZW Dollars) by the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, on 22 November 2022.

RATES OF PAY

The Principal Agreement Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990 is amended by the deletion of Clause 1 (a) and 1 (b) of Schedule E and the substitution of: –

“1 (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 (b) the basic minimum earnings payable to employees for the period 1 October 2022 to 31 December 2022 shall be as per the attached Schedules.

This Agreement is subject to review in terms of section 3 (2) of Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990, based on the prevailing economic situation in the Mining Industry.

The agreement carries an Exemption Clause as stipulated in the Principal Agreement, Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990, Clause 6 (Exemptions, Variations and Savings).

Nonforeign currency generating companies, upon being granted an exemption, may be allowed to pay the full US dollar amount in ZW dollars equivalent using the official Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) auction rate.

Those employers who are able to pay more than the N.E.C. minimums are encouraged to do so.

All increases shall be based on the dollar value principle.

GET RATES OF PAY HERE

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