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Vast Resources update on Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine

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Vast Resources update on Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine

Vast Resources plc, the AIM-listed mining company, is pleased to update the market on progress at its Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine “Baita Plai” in Romania.

Following the previous announcement made on 8 September 2020 regarding the new steel bridge installation process at Baita Plai, the Company can announce that activities are on schedule and the bridge is being installed today.

The Company will provide footage of this process via social media.

Vast Resources in Zimbabwe

Vast Resources plc is a former shareholder of Chegutu gold producer Pickstone Peerless. Vast is a United Kingdom AIM-listed mining company with mines and projects in Romania and Zimbabwe.  The Miner is currently awaiting approval to begin Diamond exploration and Mining in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean authorities had promised to finalise the deal by March 2020 but have since remained mum and experts say government currently awaits Mines and Minerals bill to make any decisions. To date, the government is yet to approve 40 EPO’s and thousands of mining title applications which has lead to ASM mining without titles.

Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando had promised the bill was to be presented to the parliamentary committee by the 17th of September 2020 which has since passed. 

Fidelity gold buying prices Friday 18 September 2020

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Fidelity gold buying prices Friday 18 September 2020

Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) official gold buying prices Friday 18 September 2020

SG 90% AND ABOVE $55.71/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% $54.78/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% $53.53/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% $52.91/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g $54.15g
FIRE ASSAY CASH $56.03/g

Exchange rate : 80.4820

Cash available. Fidelity Printers and Refiners prices will be changing daily in relation to world market prices.

Contact FPR

No. 1 George Drive, Msasa, Harare, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +263 242-486670, +263 242-486694, +263 242-487131, +263 242-447810-5

RBZ moves to clear outstanding gold payments

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RBZ moves to clear outstanding gold payments

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has started clearing all outstanding payments due to small scale miners for the gold delivered to Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) as it moves to ensure deliveries to official channels and plug leakages.

The clearing of outstanding payments comes after Fidelity Printers had failed to pay small scale gold miners in the last two weeks, as limited flights into Zimbabwe, due to Covid-19, had affected the smooth importation of hard currency cash required to pay the miners.

It also comes after gold deliveries slipped 53% to 1.27 tonnes in August from 2.746 tonnes during the same month last year on delays in payment amid fears the yellow metal could have been diverted to an alternative market where payment is instant.

In a recent update to miners, Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya said RBZ heard the miners’ concerns and committed to the clearance of all outstanding payments.

“We are pleased to announce that FPR gold buying centres began paying out all outstanding areas for gold bullion delivered to them by September 1, 2020.

This set up of prompt payment by FPR after receiving bullion shall be the order of the day going forward,” read part of the update.

From a total of 1.2 tonnes delivered in August, small scale miners contributed 0.418 tonnes while primary producers delivered 0.85 tonnes.

Experts said the 78% drop in gold deliveries by small scale miners to 0.418 tonnes in August 2020 from 1.933 tonnes during the same month last year indicates that the secondary producers are protesting the delays in payments for their precious metal.

Gold is Zimbabwe’s single largest foreign currency earner contributing 38% of the country’s total earnings and more than 60% to the mining sector.

Last year, gold output was 16% down to 27.6 tonnes from 33.2 tonnes in 2018 attributed to suspected smuggling caused by unfavourable mining policies, fuel shortages and lack of technology.

The target for the year was 40 tonnes. Over 30 tonnes of the yellow metal was smuggled to South Africa last year as small scale miners sought to get more and evade the forex retention which was at 55%.

It has now been standardised at 70% for all exports. Zimbabwe is targeting 100 tonnes of gold per year by 2023, a figure which is expected to help the sector to earn US$12bn yearly and only if forex retention threshold, fundamentals and funding issues are addressed.

Gold is expected to lead the charge by contributing US$4bn export earnings by 2023. BUSINESS TIMES

Cops arrested for illegally mining and sharing gold proceeds

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Cops arrested for illegally mining and sharing gold proceeds
Kwekwe based Sakile Mnangagwa (31) who is a business partner to Gostaff Gomo at Trump -Tower Minerals private has implicated three police officers who were involved in a gold rush at Zhangazha plot, Venice in Kadoma.
The officers who were arrested for tampering with gold nuggets are Selina Mero (46), Innocent Bangu, and Malvin Ndhlebe. The trio is jointly charged with Micah Sibanda (50), Rashid Takabell (33), Ishmael Chariwa (41), and Christian Zhangazha, (32).
Sources close to Investigations told Byo24 that on September 2 Takabell and Chariwa were taken to Kadoma police station and Mnangagwa claimed ownership of 45 gold nuggets which were recovered from their claim by the police during a gold rush.

The duo Chariwa and Takabell implicated the accused cops of illegally mining and sharing US$420 from 40 grams of gold after milling.

The Cops only managed to produce 17 gold nuggets from the alleged 45 leading to their arrest.

Source – Byo24

Exploration reveals US$1 billion gold reserves in Guruve

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Exploration reveals US$1 billion gold reserves in Guruve

Extensive exploration works at Eureka Gold Mine in Guruve District, Mashonaland Central Province have confirmed resource worth over US$1 billion.

This was revealed by the shareholders of the mine while briefing Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura who toured the mine yesterday.

Mr Marc Nicolle, chief executive of Dallaglio Investments, which owns the mine, said exploration works conducted so far have proved availability of massive gold resource, hinting actual production was expected to start during the third quarter next year.

Delta Gold commissioned the mine during 1999 as an open pit operation feeding a processing plant capable of 1,8 tonnes per annum. The operation was suspended in June 2000 due to high costs and a low gold price which accompanied severe economic problems in Zimbabwe coupled with a period of hyperinflation.

In 2018, Vast Resources with operating mines in Zimbabwe and Romania, acquired a 95 percent interest in the Eureka Gold Mine through Dallaglio Investments.

The visit by the Deputy Minister Kambamura was to ascertain progress made towards bringing the mine back to production, since the last visit by President Mnangagwa.

“The exploration work we have done so far covers the initial period of open pit. . . the initial life of mine in the open pit phase is about US$1 billion,” said Mr Nicolle.

Mr Nicolle said there had been considerable work done with production expected to restart in the third quarter next year, with focus of becoming country’s largest gold miner.

Deputy Minister Kanhambura said reviving gold mining at Eureka would “feed well into our vision to attain 100 tonnes of gold per annum by 2023 . . . which means it is also strategic to His Excellency’s Vision 2030.”

Last year, Zimbabwe unveiled a roadmap to propel the country’s mining sector to US$12 billion industry by 2023.

The mining sector is the largest foreign currency earner, accounting for 70 percent of export receipts. It is one of the key industries expected to anchor the revival of an economy.

Under the US$12 billion mining roadmap, gold is expected to contribute US$4 billion, platinum US$3 billion while chrome, iron, steel diamonds and coal will contribute US$1 billion.

Lithium is expected to contribute US$500 million, while other minerals will contribute US$1,5 billion. Already, a number of new mining projects are at various stages of implementation while expansion of existing operations is underway.

Eureka was developed as a modern gold mine in 1999, designed to produce approximately 70 000 ounces of gold per annum from an open pit before an underground operation was established.  The mine was operated during 1999-2000 after which operations were suspended due to the then harsh economic environment.

In 2011 Delta embarked on an exploration programme to verify all previous exploration and appointed TWP Projects to undertake a confirmatory drilling programme, provide an updated mineral resource model and to compile a Canadian Instrument (NI43-101) compliant report as the first stage of a pre-feasibility study.

Queens Mine boss discharges firearm at rival premises

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Queens Mine boss discharges firearm at rival premises

An alleged rivalry between white and Chinese owned mining companies sparked a shooting incident outside Bulawayo at the weekend.

The incident, which took place at Greens Business Centre near Inyathi, happened when a director and son of Queens Mine, a Marconate, is alleged to have been engaged in a road rage incident with a driver from the rival Chinese-owned Gold More Milling company before trailing him to the company’s premises.

There, the assailant started attacking the driver, Siphosami Mtinsi and hurling insults and racial expletives. The situation quickly degenerated when the father of the assailant, whose name has been given as Francisca, also came and allegedly threatened to shut down the mine, forcing the other side to defend their turf.

The older Marconate was said to have discharged a gun four times.

A report was made to Inyathi Police Station under RRB number 4381003 on Monday.

No arrests have yet been made.

“The problem that I had yesterday (Sunday) was with the people of Queens Mine, particularly a white young male of average height,”  Mtinsi narrated his ordeal.

“I was driving to our mine and he was going in the opposite direction. We were using a narrow dust road. I am assuming that my truck may have raised lots of dust, which ostensibly irritated and he started chasing after me. When I stopped, he started threatening me and said I should be fired,” he said.

The assailant then proceeded to Gold More premises, where he blocked entry with his vehicle. A scuffle ensued and the assailant threw racial abuse at Mtinsi.

“I told him I was not afraid of him, and he said, ‘You’re not afraid, are you (President) Mnangagwa’s son?’,” said Mtinsi. The older Marconate is said to have also arrived and took out a police-type baton and started hitting the driver and kicking him on the private parts.”

Good More management and workers came out whereupon, it is alleged, Marconate senior went to his car and drew a weapon shooting four times in the air before they left the scene.

Initially, Police is alleged to have refused to take the report of the victims, and instead detained the driver and a security guard.

NewZimbabwe

Hwange mining case dismissed by court

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Hwange mining case dismissed by court

HIGH Court judge Owen Tagu has struck off the court roll, the case of Zimbabwe Environment Lawyers Association (Zela) and a Hwange resident who were seeking an order compelling a Chinese Mining Firm, Zhongxin Mining Group Tongmao Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd to stop its controversial mining operations inside Hwange National Park.

The case was struck off on a technicality after Tagu said applicants erred by failing to jointly sue President Emmerson Mnangagwa and tourism minister Mangaliso Ndlovu.

Legal experts were however quick to criticise the ruling saying it was not possible to sue the president as it requires a separate application for leave to sue, albeit assuming Ndlovu was not the licensing authority, of which he was.

“Having considered the papers filed of record, it would seem while the necessary paperwork was done, some appear to have been done after the special grants were issued,” Justice Tagu said.

“While the matter on the face of it appears urgent on that basis, the application still is improperly before the court because the relevant parties were not cited and there are material disputes of facts.

“I have been asked to dismiss the application. However, I feel the appropriate action at this stage is to strike the matter off the roll of urgent matters in view of non citations of relevant parties and the existence of material disputes of fact,” Justice Tagu ruled.

Zhongxin Mining Group on Thursday defended its controversial operations in the giant Hwange National Park and sought the case dismissed on a technicality.

The firm, represented by Jingini Tsivama of Sawyer and Mukushi, argued that it had no case to answer since there was a dispute of facts, implying there were not mining activities taking place except for exploratory works.

Tsivama also appeared for the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), the second respondent while Advocate Agyver Sawunyama appeared for Zela and a Hwange resident, Fidelis Chima.

The company also argued that the application was defective in that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was not jointed in the case along with Environment and Tourism minister Mangaliso Ndlovu as should have been the case.

This is despite the fact that Ndlovu’s representative had submitted that she was not opposed to the relief sought and requested to be excused from further proceedings as the minister would abide by the court’s decision after Cabinet at its meeting last week resolved to terminate all mining permits in wildlife reserves.

However, Sawunyama countered the argument saying the non-joinder did not destroy the case.

Zela and Chima applied to the High Court to stop the Chinese company from mining coal in the national park which hosts one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, saying such activities would cause devastating ecological degradation and force wildlife to flee.

New Zimbabwe

Kamativi solar plant to open 2023

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Kamativi solar plant to open 2023

GOVERNMENT has unveiled plans to construct a 20MW solar plant in Kamativi, Matabeleland North province, with the defunct tin mine, which closed more than 20 years ago, expected to reopen in 2023.

A pilot exploration exercise is still going on at Kamativi mine amid indications this could unlock an estimated US$1.4 billion in lithium value, which would pave way for the full-scale exploitation of the strategic mineral, according to the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).

Under the country’s economic recovery drive the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has been mandated to facilitate the re-opening of closed mines such as Kamativi, among others. This has seen the Government engaging potential investors to be considered in key projects to aid capacity building towards unlocking vast mineral value.

Exploration works are said to be ongoing to increase the resource base and confidence for Kamativi mine with a target to get the mine operational and feed into the mining vision of a US$12 billion industry by 2023.

“There is an exploration programme currently underway to increase the resource base and confidence for Kamativi mine with a target to get the mine operational by 2023. There are also plans to construct a 20MW solar power station,” Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Polite Kambamura, told Parliament last week.

Legislators had asked what plans the Government had concerning the re-opening of the mine, which was closed in 1994. At the time of closure the international price of the resource had plummeted to unsustainable levels. The tin mine was employing about 3 000 workers and still had a life span of over 40 years. During discussion, Binga South MP, Gabuza Joel Gabuza, felt the exploration exercise had taken long and asked the Government to clarify existing bottlenecks. Other legislators weighed in and urged the Government to closely supervise and exercise due diligence on the potential investors to ensure success of the project.

In response, Deputy Minister Kambamura said the exploration programme was still on and called for patience saying geological survey results would soon be out.

“Exploration is not a one-day thing but it is a cost intensive operation and also time consuming. Some of these activities can take up to three or five years exploring. We are getting results through the geological survey of Zimbabwe from the investors with regard to this concession,” he said.

“When an investor comes, he has to gain confidence first so that is the process that they are currently doing. They have to increase the resources base, the size of the reserve and they have to increase the level of confidence into the resources before they can pump in money.”

It is hoped that once full-scale lithium production begins at Kamativi, the mine will employ up to 700 people. In 2015, ZMDC secured a new investor, China Beijing Pinchang, to resuscitate operations at Kamativi Tin Mine under a US$102 million investment deal.

Chronicle

Fidelity gold buying prices Monday 14 September 2020

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Fidelity gold buying prices Monday 14 September 2020

Fidelity Printers and Refiners official gold buying prices Monday 14 September 2020.

SG 90% AND ABOVE $56.03/g
SG ABOVE 85% BUT BELOW 90% $55.09/g
SG ABOVE 80% BUT BELOW 85% $53.84/g
SG ABOVE 75% BUT BELOW 80% $53.21/g
SAMPLE BELOW 10g BUT ABOVE 5g $54.47/g
FIRE ASSAY CASH $56.35/g

Cash available. Fidelity Printers and Refiners prices will be changing daily in relation to world market prices.

Contact FPR

No. 1 George Drive, Msasa, Harare, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +263 242-486670, +263 242-486694, +263 242-487131, +263 242-447810-5

What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

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What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA?)

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the possible impacts that a proposed project may have on the environment, consisting of the environmental, social and economic aspects.

The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision-makers consider the environmental impacts when deciding whether or not to proceed with a project. The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines
an environmental impact assessment as “the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made. EIAs require decision-makers to account for environmental values in their decisions and to justify those decisions in light of detailed environmental studies and public comments on potential environmental impacts.

What is the EIA legislative policy?

The Government of Zimbabwe gazetted the Environmental Management Act in 2002 and S.I 7 of 2007 (Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection) which compels prescribed projects listed under the
first schedule of the EMA Act (Cap 20:27) to undergo an EIA process prior to implementation.

What projects require an EIA?

The projects that require an EIA are listed in the First Schedule of the Environmental Management Act. They are as follows:

• Dams and manmade lakes;
• Drainage of wetlands and irrigation schemes
• Conversion of forest land to other use;
• Conversion of natural woodland to other use within the catchment

1. area of reservoirs used for water supply, irrigation or hydropower generation or in areas adjacent to the Parks and • Wildlife estate;
• Housing Developments;
• Industry-chemical plants, iron and steel smelters and plants, smelters other than iron and steel, petrochemical plants, cement plants, lime plants, agro-industries, pulp and paper mills, tanneries, breweries and industries involving the use, manufacture, handling, storage, transport or disposal of hazardous- or toxic material.
• Infrastructure-highways, airports, new railway routes and branch lines, new towns or townships, industrial sites;
• Mining and quarrying-mineral prospecting; mineral mining; ore processing and concentrating; quarrying;
• Petroleum production, storage and distribution;
• Power generation and transmission- thermal power stations, hydropower schemes and high voltage transmission lines;
• Tourist resorts and recreational developments –resort facilities and hotels, marinas and safari operators;
• Waste treatment and disposal-toxic and hazardous waste: incineration plants, recovery plants, wastewater treatment plants, landfill facilities and storage facilities; municipal solid waste: incineration, composting, recovery and recycling plants and landfill facilities; municipal sewage: waste treatment plants, outfalls into aquatic systems, effluent water irrigation schemes and
• Water supply- groundwater development for industrial, agricultural or urban water supply; major canals, cross drainage water transfers, major pipelines and water withdrawals from rivers and reservoirs.

How long does it take to conduct an EIA study?

Before doing an environmental impact assessment for a project, a developer shall submit a prospectus to the Director-General containing information on the project such as the nature of project, location, size, area sensitivity and project implementation strategy among other issues. If the Director-General is satisfied that the proposed environmental impact assessment will be capable of evaluating the project’s impact on the environment, she approves it and asks the developer to prepare an environmental impact assessment. If she is not satisfied she rejects the prospectus and gives the developer directions that are necessary for the preparation of a new one. When approving a prospectus the Director-General may fix conditions relating to the scope of the assessment and the
developer concerned shall comply with any such conditions.

How long does it take to review an EIA study?

The Director-General responds to the submission of an environmental impact assessment report within sixty (60) working days and will notify the developer of her decision. If the Director-General does not respond within
this time the project shall be deemed to have been approved.

N.B For an EIA to work well, it should be considered at the time the project is conceptualised to avoid delays in project implementation on account of the EIA.

Who carries out the EIA study?

The developer shall engage a person independent of the development who is an expert in environmental planning and management services to prepare the environmental impact assessment.

How do I get hold of consultants?

To get hold of consultants visit an EMA office in your district or province. EMA has a list of approved consultants that developers should engage for their environmental impact assessments. Payment of a fee of $42 is needed
for viewing of the approved consultants list.

How much are the EIA review fees?

The consultant charges his or her fee for compiling the EIA document and the Environmental Management Agency charges 1, 5% of the total project cost.

Who should be consulted during the EIA process?

The Director-General may consult any authority, organisation, community, agency or person which or who in her opinion has an interest in the project.

How long is the licence valid for?

The certificate is valid for two years from the date of issue, the Director-General can extend the validity of the licence for not more than one year for projects implemented within the stipulated period but not yet complete.

Environmental audits

Project developers are expected to adhere to the contents of the EIA report as far as possible during project implementation.

EMA shall carry out bi-annual environmental audits to ensure that all projects being implemented are in compliance with the regulations. The developer shall submit a Quarterly Environmental Monitoring Report on
any issues raised in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report or any other issues that arise as a result of the implementation of the project.

Failure to submit a quarterly report will make a developer liable to a fine not exceeding level 14 or imprisonment for twelve months or both such fine and imprisonment.

Please talk to us we are always ready to listen. Email: [email protected] or 04 305543 / Toll-free 08080028, Like our Facebook Page- Environmental Management Agency or follow us on Twitter @EMAeep.

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