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Mutapa Energy Minerals Targets to Triple Output and Expand Exploration at Sandawana Lithium Mine

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Mutapa Energy Minerals Targets to Triple Output and Expand Exploration at Sandawana Lithium Mine

Mutapa Energy Minerals is targeting to more than triple the output at its lithium operations, with plans also set for further exploration at its Sandawana Mines, buoyed by the recovery of lithium prices and a positive outlook in the near future, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

This development follows a recent recovery in the lithium market after a prolonged price slump around 2023, which had delayed the full development of the Sandawana project.

The slowdown was largely due to market and project-structuring challenges, with weak global lithium prices at the time affecting the project’s financial viability.

As a result, the Sandawana Lithium Project has been operating at limited, interim production levels, with output still below full project scale while the main processing plant remains under development.

Recent figures indicate that the operation produced approximately 88,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate monthly in the latest reporting period, with material being processed through third-party facilities.

With market conditions now more favourable, Mutapa is moving quickly to advance the project and capitalise on current lithium prices. Speaking at the ongoing Mining Indaba, Mutapa Energy Minerals Chief Executive Innocent Rukweza said the company expects to triple production, driven by the positive outlook for lithium, as he laid out exploration plans across some of its lithium blocks.

“And we’re very hopeful because, based on what analysts are saying, we believe current prices will remain sustainable in the near future. With a looming shortage in lithium supply, prices are expected to stay strong in the long term. We hope that moving forward, we can make everything sustainable.”

“To date, the significance of Sandawana lies in its performance despite the 2023 price crisis. Just last year, we mined over 1.8 million tonnes of ore and, through our toll processing arrangement, produced 162,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate. We hope to more than triple that output in the future,” Rukweza said.

Meanwhile, Sandawana Mines is divided into three blocks. In Block A, exploration has been completed, with resource statements already published.

Adding to the company’s production ambitions, Rukweza also highlighted opportunities for exploration across Sandawana’s lithium blocks, aimed at identifying new resources to support future growth.

“However, we still have Block B and Block C, which need to be explored. So exploration is one of the critical things that we are also aiming for. And this is also in line with the government thrust, just to know the resources that we have before we get going to develop mining structures that we might have. So there are opportunities in mineral exploration in both Block B and Block C,” Rukweza added.

To support its expansion and exploration plans, Mutapa Energy Minerals is preparing to start construction of a US$250 million lithium concentrate processing plant at Sandawana Lithium Mine by June this year, with completion expected in 2027.

The plant is designed to process up to 600,000 tonnes of lithium ore per year, producing around 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate once fully operational.

Alongside the new facility, the company is implementing upgrades to critical infrastructure around Sandawana, including roads, power supply, and water systems.

These investments are intended to improve operational efficiency and access to the mine, while also benefiting surrounding communities through broader social infrastructure such as clinics and related facilities.

Zimbabwe to Commission Africa’s First Lithium Sulphate Plant Next Month, Two More to Follow

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CAPE TOWN – Zimbabwe will commission Africa’s first lithium sulphate processing plant within the next month, with two additional facilities set to come online by the end of next year, positioning the country as the continent’s undisputed leader in critical minerals beneficiation, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at the Mutapa Mining Indaba Symposium in Cape Town, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon. Dr. Polite Kambamura delivered a historic announcement that drew sustained applause from the international investment community.

“Next month or so, we’ll be commissioning Africa’s first lithium sulphate plant. That’s Zimbabwe,” the Minister declared.

He then outlined an unprecedented beneficiation pipeline. “Next year, we’ll be commissioning another lithium plant. That will be the second. The next year, we’ll be commissioning another third lithium sulphate plant, which means Zimbabwe will be having three lithium sulphate plants commissioned in a row, the only ones in Africa,” he said.

The First Plant: Arcadia Technology Zimbabwe

The first of these three facilities, Arcadia Technology Zimbabwe, is owned by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), a subsidiary of Chinese lithium giant Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. Construction of the US$400 million plant in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province, is now complete and awaiting commissioning in the first quarter of 2026.

The facility is designed to produce 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of lithium sulphate per annum and will more than double export earnings compared to raw concentrate shipments. The plant comprises three production lines, each with a feed of 500,000 tonnes per annum of concentrate, with the first line scheduled for January 2026 and subsequent lines in April 2026.

Total investment by Huayou Cobalt in Zimbabwe’s lithium value chain now stands at US$1.1 billion, encompassing the Arcadia mining operation, the concentrator commissioned in 2023, and this new sulphate processing facility.

The plant is expected to generate US$320 million in annual revenue and create over 1,000 jobs.

The Second Plant: Sinomine’s Bikita

The second lithium sulphate plant confirmed by the Minister aligns with publicly announced plans by Sinomine, which acquired Bikita Minerals in 2022. The company has committed US$500 million to construct a lithium sulphate processing facility at its operations in Masvingo Province.

This facility will position Sinomine alongside Huayou Cobalt as the vanguard of Zimbabwe’s beneficiation drive, with commissioning anticipated within the Minister’s “next year” timeline.

The Third Plant: Awaiting Confirmation

While the Minister’s reference to a third lithium sulphate plant commissioning at the “end of next year” demonstrates the accelerating momentum of Zimbabwe’s beneficiation drive, specific details regarding this facility remain to be formally announced. The pipeline of advanced lithium projects in the country, including Mutapa Energy Minerals’ Sandawana development (currently targeting concentrate production, with downstream processing to follow) and the Kamativi Mining Company operation, suggests multiple potential candidates capable of stepping up to sulphate production.

What is beyond dispute is the Minister’s central thesis: Zimbabwe will possess three operational lithium sulphate facilities, a feat unmatched anywhere else in Africa.

Beyond Sulphate: The Road to Carbonate and Batteries

Minister Kambamura made it clear that lithium sulphate is not the final destination. “We are not going to be ending there. We are going to go for further validation and beneficiation for lithium,” he said.

He explicitly confirmed the next frontier: “We are looking forward to further beneficiating our lithium to lithium carbonate, which is budgeted for.”

This trajectory aligns with Zimbabwe’s Mines to Energy Park initiative, targeting completion by 2027 at Mapinga, where the country aims to produce complete lithium batteries utilising domestic lithium for cathodes and graphite for anodes.

“If we manage to bridge the energy deficit, who knows, we’ll still be there,” the Minister added.

Zimbabwe is already Africa’s largest lithium producer, having led continental production in 2024. Exports of spodumene concentrate reached 586,197 tonnes in the first half of 2025, a 29.7% increase year-on-year.

The transition from concentrate to sulphate represents a revenue multiplication of five to seven times per tonne of raw material processed, with corresponding increases in employment, fiscal contributions, and foreign currency retention.

Yet the Minister’s Cape Town address was not merely a technical briefing. It was a declaration of national industrial arrival, delivered with the evident satisfaction of a man who has watched a multi-billion-dollar vision translate into cranes on the skyline, pipelines of product, and now, a commissioning schedule that leaves the rest of the continent looking up.

And with three sulphate plants in the pipeline, Africa’s first lithium battery manufacturer may not be far behind.

Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 13 February 2026

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Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 13 February 2026

Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 13 February 2026, from the official gold buyer and exporter Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR).

1 oz = 31.1035 g

Here you go — converted neatly into USD per troy ounce (oz) using 1 oz = 31.1035 g.

CategoryPrice ($/g)Price ($/oz)
SG 90% and above150.204,671.75
SG 85% and above but below 90%148.614,622.30
SG 80% and above but below 85%147.024,572.85
SG 75% and above but below 80%145.434,523.41
Sample 5g and above but below 10g143.044,449.20
Fire Assay CASH150.994,696.32

 

Note: The Fire Assay cash price applies to gold above 100g, with no sample deduction.

A sample of not more than 10g is deducted for the Fire Assay Transfer price.

Geological Surveying Expertise Sharing Dominates UK’s Fruitful Talks with Zimbabwe Mines Ministry

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Geological Surveying Expertise Sharing Dominates UK’s Fruitful Talks with Zimbabwe Mines Ministry

The United Kingdom has confirmed that it held productive discussions with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, focusing on geological surveying expertise sharing and the management of the country’s mining and minerals environment to ensure Zimbabwe maximises the benefits of its natural resources, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The discussions come amid a growing wave of interest from Western countries in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, with nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom increasingly drawn to the country’s rich deposits of critical minerals, including lithium, platinum, and gold.

Despite Zimbabwe’s rich mineral endowment, the country faces challenges in turning its potential into investment-ready opportunities.

Much of the nationwide geological mapping remains outdated, with the last comprehensive map completed in the 1970s. Limited access to reliable data, gaps in technical capacity, and insufficient modern surveying technology have made it difficult for investors to make well-informed decisions.

At the same time, Zimbabwe continues to grapple with how best to manage its mining and minerals environment to ensure the nation derives maximum benefit.

Outdated data systems, the absence of a clear strategy for critical minerals, and ongoing regulatory uncertainty continue to undermine investor confidence and slow value-adding initiatives, including beneficiation and local processing of resources such as lithium and platinum.

Against this backdrop, UK Trade Commissioner for Africa John Humphrey, in an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing Mining Indaba, reviewed details of a fruitful meeting with Minister Polite Kambamura, emphasising the critical role of reliable geological data in attracting investment.

“I’ve met the new Minister of Mines. We had a very fruitful discussion about the exchange of expertise in geological surveying and also talked about how you manage your mining and minerals environment to ensure that the country is getting the maximum benefit… If you have good geological data that is open and available to people, and they can trust that information, then it encourages investment,” Humphrey said.

The Geological Society of Zimbabwe (GSZ) has long advocated for modernised geological mapping, updated databases, and technical capacity building to support mineral exploration and investment.

Recent initiatives, including collaborations with the British Geological Survey, aim to digitise maps, train local surveyors, and make geological data more accessible.

By promoting research, education, and knowledge sharing, the GSZ is helping bridge gaps in expertise and ensuring Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth is fully understood and responsibly managed.

The meeting underscores a broader push for international collaboration and knowledge exchange.

By combining modern surveying techniques, open access to reliable data, and strengthened technical expertise, Zimbabwe can attract investors while ensuring that the country fully benefits from its mineral resources, turning knowledge into tangible economic growth.

Gold Deliveries Slip in January 2026, Extending Seasonal Trend as Sector Consolidates After Record Year

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Gold Deliveries Slip in January 2026, Extending Seasonal Trend as Sector Consolidates After Record Year

Gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) declined sharply in January 2026, falling 38.4% month-on-month from December 2025’s record performance, while also recording a modest 3.9% year-on-year dip compared to January 2025, according to the latest statistics released by the country’s sole gold buyer and exporter, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Total gold deliveries for January 2026 stood at 3,044.9708 kg, down from 4,941.7172 kg in December 2025 and slightly below the 3,168.7170 kg delivered in January 2025.

The decline follows a historic 2025 campaign where Zimbabwe smashed the national 40-tonne target, with annual deliveries reaching a record 46,729.06 kg—a 28.1% increase from 2024. The January slowdown reflects typical post-holiday seasonality and production consolidation after December’s exceptional output.

Sectoral Breakdown: ASM Resilience Tested

Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (ASM), the backbone of Zimbabwe’s gold sector, delivered 2,236.5628 kg in January 2026.

Month-on-Month: This represents a sharp 42.4% decline from December 2025’s outstanding 3,881.6877 kg, which had capped a year in which ASM nearly matched the entire industry’s 2024 output.

Year-on-Year: Deliveries slipped a marginal 1.3% from 2,265.5474 kg in January 2025.

While the monthly drop is significant, it comes off an exceptionally high base. December 2025 saw ASM deliveries surge 20.0% month-on-month, and the sector grew a staggering 46.9% across the full year 2025. Analysts view the January cooldown as a natural production reset following a period of sustained, record-breaking activity.

Large-Scale Producers (LSM) delivered 808.4080 kg in January 2026.

Month-on-Month: A 23.7% decrease from 1,060.0295 kg in December 2025.

Year-on-Year: A 10.5% decline from 903.1696 kg delivered in January 2025.

The large-scale sector has faced persistent headwinds. Full-year 2025 deliveries for LSM fell 7.0% compared to 2024, and the January 2026 figures continue this trend. Industry observers point to operational constraints, power shortages, and capital expenditure delays affecting major producers.

The January 2026 figures must be viewed against the backdrop of an unprecedented 2025. Zimbabwe’s gold sector delivered a historic 46.7 tonnes last year, with ASM contributing an extraordinary 34,875.10 kg, nearly matching the entire industry’s 2024 total of 36,486.75 kg. December 2025 alone saw nearly 5 tonnes delivered, one of the highest monthly totals on record.

Seasonal patterns have historically influenced first-quarter performance. In January 2024, deliveries fell 3.1% from December 2023, while January 2023 also recorded post-festive season slowdowns. The current decline mirrors these established trends, though amplified by the exceptional heights reached in late 2025.

Encouragingly, the year-on-year decline is modest at just 3.9% overall, suggesting underlying sector strength remains intact. ASM’s year-on-year performance slipped only 1.3%, indicating that small-scale miners have largely sustained the production gains achieved throughout 2025.

Fidelity Gold Refinery’s recent shift to a live morning benchmark for its daily fixed price, replacing the previous day’s close, is expected to support producer confidence through greater pricing transparency and responsiveness to global market openings.

With gold prices remaining elevated near $5,000 per ounce despite recent volatility, and FGR continuing competitive purchasing terms, industry stakeholders anticipate production will stabilize and recover in the coming months.

The ASM sector, which has consistently contributed over 65% of national output and drove the record 2025 performance, remains well-positioned to regain momentum as weather conditions improve and operations normalize.

January’s figures serve as a measured start to 2026—a consolidation month after a landmark year—rather than a cause for concern. The fundamentals that propelled Zimbabwe beyond 40 tonnes remain firmly in place.

Mutapa Gold Targets 7.5 Tonnes Per Annum, Plans US$150 Million Shamva Expansion to more than double Group Output

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Mutapa Gold Targets 7.5 Tonnes Per Annum, Plans US$150 Million Shamva Expansion to more than double Group Output

CAPE TOWN – Mutapa Gold Resources is embarking on an ambitious, multi-phased expansion programme aimed at more than doubling consolidated gold production to approximately 250,000 ounces per annum, nearly 7.5 tonnes, within the next three to four years, anchored by a US$150 million redevelopment of Shamva Mining Company, followed by an expansion at Jena Mine.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at the Mutapa Investment Fund symposium on the sidelines of the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba, Mutapa Gold Resources CEO Trevor Barnard provided a detailed breakdown of the state-owned gold vehicle’s project pipeline, clarifying the distinct funding requirements and production targets for each asset under its portfolio.

Barnard confirmed that the US$150 million funding requirement is specifically allocated to Shamva Mining Company, where Mutapa plans to transform the operation into a large-scale, open-cast, low-cost gold producer with a throughput of about 2.5 million tonnes per annum.

“That would give us a consolidated gold production of around 170,000 ounces per annum,” Barnard stated. He emphasised that the mine is being designed to sit in the lower quartile of the global cost curve, ensuring resilience against future gold price corrections.

“We don’t expect the gold price to stay at the heavy heights that it is currently, so we need to prepare ourselves for those days when we also have some lower prices,” he said. This philosophy of designing for long-term viability, rather than short-term price peaks, underpins Mutapa Gold’s entire expansion strategy.

Turning to Jena Mine, Barnard outlined a separate but concurrent growth trajectory. Currently producing approximately 30 kilograms of gold per month, Jena is operating well below its geological potential. Mutapa plans to install a completely new processing plant and transition the operation to open-cast mining.

“We’re fortunate that Jena is quite a high-grade mine. We’ve got grades there that approach about 2.5 grammes per tonne,” Barnard said. “If you design an open-cast mine at that grade and the geological potential at Jena, you’re going to be producing at a pretty low cost and significant volume.”

The expanded Jena operation is expected to contribute around 80,000 ounces per annum, adding substantial weight to Mutapa Gold’s consolidated production profile.

While not the subject of immediate major expansion announcements, Freda Rebecca remains the flagship asset within Mutapa Gold Resources, currently producing approximately 220 kilograms of gold per month. This strong baseline production, equivalent to roughly 85,000 ounces per annum, provides the cash flow and operational stability that enables the group to pursue its ambitious growth agenda across other assets.

Barnard confirmed that Elvington Mine in Chegutu represents the third wave of Mutapa Gold’s development pipeline, following the successful execution of Shamva and Jena.

“We’re running on the basis of a contract mining agreement where we’re supporting the artisanal miners that are there at the moment,” Barnard explained, describing an interim model where gold is split equitably between Mutapa, the artisanal miners, and the processor, with all sales channelled through Fidelity.

This pragmatic approach formalises activity, generates immediate revenue, and secures Mutapa’s social licence while de-risking the site ahead of major capital deployment. The long-term vision is to access the main resource sitting underground, beyond the reach of current artisanal operations.

Barnard clarified the sequencing: “Our project pipeline is first of all Shamva. As soon as Shamva is well on the go, then we’ll follow up with the development of Jena. Those two will run to an extent concurrently, and then once those are operational, it’s then to take the next step and develop Elvington to its full extent”.

When combined, Mutapa Gold Resources’ current production base, anchored by Freda Rebecca, plus the targeted expansions at Shamva and Jena, position the group to triple its total gold output from approximately 115,000 ounces per annum to over 300,000 ounces (approximately 9.6 tonnes) within five to six years.

“And if you put all of that together with our current production, we are planning to triple our current gold production in the next five to six years, which would be taking us from our current around 115,000 ounces per annum to over 300,000 ounces per annum,” Barnard confirmed.

Beyond this horizon, he indicated that Mutapa Gold intends to continue developing its remaining tenements, projecting sustained growth over the next five to ten years.

Throughout the presentation, Barnard stressed that implementation will prioritise Zimbabwean capacity.

“The skill is definitely available. As you could hear from my previous discussions around the different projects, our implementation model is really to develop large-scale, low-cost mines,” he said.

He emphasised support for local contractors and suppliers, noting that the competencies required to execute these projects exist within Zimbabwe’s mining industry.

“We’re really excited about the future of the gold company, and the only thing that I can leave you with is watch your space,” Barnard concluded.

Mining Indaba 2026 DAY 3

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Mining Indaba 2026 DAY 3

Day Three at the Investing in African Mining Indaba saw Zimbabwe intensify its investment outreach, led by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Polite Kambamura (MP), highlighting beneficiation, sustainability, and strategic partnerships.

Kelvin Sungiso

The day began with a high-level meeting with the World Bank, focusing on governance, infrastructure support, and policy consistency to attract long-term capital. Minister Kambamura reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to transparency, regulatory efficiency, and investor-friendly frameworks.

Discussions with Valterra Platinum centered on expanding platinum group metals production along the Great Dyke, enhancing refining capacity, and mobilising capital for downstream value addition. With Zimbabwe holding the world’s second-largest platinum reserves, the country is pushing to move beyond raw exports and deepen industrialisation.

Sustainability was a major theme, with Minister Kambamura delivering a keynote address at the Sustainable Energy for All platform. He emphasized the importance of reliable, affordable, and clean energy to support beneficiation and investor confidence. Sweden’s State Secretary, Diana Janse, met the Minister to reaffirm a joint commitment to sustainable mining, innovation, and value addition.

In his main address at the Sahara Stage, the Minister presented Zimbabwe’s investment case, highlighting policy reforms, secure tenure, and opportunities in lithium, platinum, and gold. The UK Trade Commissioner for Africa, John Humphrey, underscored cooperation on geological surveying, mineral governance, and how transparent geological data can unlock Zimbabwe’s mining potential.

A closed-door ADPA Ministerial Roundtable strengthened regional collaboration on diamond beneficiation. The day concluded at the Mutapa Mining Indaba Symposium, where the strategic realignment of the Mutapa Investment Fund was highlighted as transformative, improving asset efficiency, governance, and private capital mobilisation.

Overall, Zimbabwe positioned itself as an open, sustainable, and investment-ready mining hub, combining resource wealth with regulatory reforms, renewable energy integration, and strategic international partnerships.

Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 12 February 2026

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Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 12 February 2026

Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 12 February 2026, from the official gold buyer and exporter Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR).

1 oz = 31.1035 g

Here you go — converted neatly into USD per troy ounce (oz) using 1 oz = 31.1035 g.

CategoryPrice ($/g)Price ($/oz)
SG 90% and above153.974,789.38
SG 85% and above but below 90%152.344,738.68
SG 80% and above but below 85%150.714,687.99
SG 75% and above but below 80%149.084,637.29
Sample 5g and above but below 10g146.644,561.39
Fire Assay CASH154.784,814.57

 

Note: The Fire Assay cash price applies to gold above 100g, with no sample deduction.

A sample of not more than 10g is deducted for the Fire Assay Transfer price.

Kambamura Sets Year-End Deadline for Resuscitation of Middle Dyke PGM Projects

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Kambamura Sets Year-End Deadline for Resuscitation of Middle Dyke PGM Projects

CAPE TOWN – Zimbabwe’s Platinum Group Metals (PGM) sector is on the cusp of a historic expansion, with the government setting an ambitious deadline to bring multiple new projects into production by the end of 2026, as investor appetite for the country’s Great Dyke resources reaches unprecedented levels, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at an oversubscribed Mutapa Mining Indaba symposium in Cape Town, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Dr Polite Kambamura delivered an unvarnished observation that spoke volumes about shifting sentiment toward Zimbabwe’s PGM endowment.

“Next time, when you invite people, especially at these platforms, you need to consider a bigger venue. Look at the appetite,” Kambamura said, surveying a conference hall that had exceeded capacity.

He then issued a clear policy deadline: “It’s in our strategic plans that this year we need to be somewhere with regard to all that are in the Middle Dyke—Great Dyke Investments, Bravura, Karo is already working—so that the PGM sector is resuscitated by the end of this year.”

Central to this push is Mutapa Platinum Group’s Darwendale project, a world-class asset with estimated resources of 44 million ounces of platinum group metals located approximately 65 kilometres west of Harare.

Mutapa Platinum CEO Munashe Shava confirmed that the company expects to commence open-pit development by the end of the first quarter, with an initial throughput target of at least 2 million tonnes per annum. The project carries an estimated development cost of US$500 million.

“We have also done a collaborative approach for the development of the asset, where we are looking at other producers or other miners who are already in the game to try and see how to collaborate with them to fast-track the development,” Shava said at a recent press conference in Harare.

He confirmed that the company is at an advanced stage with partners where funding is now “almost ready,” adding: “We are open to anybody who has got the proper colour of money to come into the project.”

The open-pit phase is expected to last between seven and ten years, with subsequent underground development to follow. A modular development strategy will see bulk infrastructure—road networks, water systems, and supporting services—established concurrently this quarter.

Karo Platinum, the project Minister Kambamura specifically noted as “already working,” is rapidly advancing toward first production. Located in Selous along the Great Dyke, Karo has invested over US$190 million to date in Phase 1 development, which carries a total budget of US$543 million.

The project, jointly owned by Karo Mining Holdings (85%) and the Government of Zimbabwe (15% free carry), has defined initial probable reserves of 35.5 million tonnes at 2.31 g/t, containing approximately 2.5 million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold.

First ore production is targeted for the first half of 2026. Once operational, Karo will process 2.5 million tonnes of ore per annum, producing 190,000 ounces per year of 6E PGMs over an initial 17-year life of mine, with company officials indicating potential for a lifespan exceeding 50 years.

To address power security—a critical vulnerability for Zimbabwean miners—Karo is developing a 30 MW solar PV plant to supplement grid electricity, alongside constructing a 132 kV transmission line from the Selous substation. The company has also raised US$37 million through the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX), demonstrating the growing viability of domestic US dollar-denominated capital markets.

Bravura Group’s Selous PGM project adds further weight to the Middle Dyke renaissance. Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe in 2023, Bravura General Manager Gbenga Ojo said the company has drilled over 40,000 metres to a maximum depth exceeding one kilometre, with the resource independently verified by SRK Consulting.

“We are confident in the measured resource and expect a life of mine exceeding 35 years, with further phases to follow,” Ojo said. The company is preparing for the excavation of the box cut.

Significantly, Bravura is prioritising local content and sustainable closure planning. “In terms of employment, we prioritise local hiring and skill transfer. Currently, 90% of our staff are Zimbabweans,” Ojo confirmed. “We do not engage in contract mining; all equipment and personnel are in-house, mitigating operational risks.”

The company has already secured an EIA certificate for its Kamativi project and is finalising the EIA application for Selous, with transparent closure plans embedded from the outset.

These new entrants will join Zimbabwe’s three established PGM producers, collectively positioning the country as the world’s third-largest platinum reserve holder after South Africa and Russia.

Zimplats, the Implats-controlled giant, remains the sector’s dominant producer. The company is currently executing a US$388 million Mupani Mine development and upgrade, advancing from 83% to 100% completion to replace declining production from existing operations. Zimplats also operates a base metal refinery and is constructing a new tailings storage facility.

Mimosa Mining Company, the joint venture between Implats and Sibanye-Stillwater, produced 123,000 ounces of 6E concentrate in the first half of FY2026, a 5% decline attributed to intermittent power interruptions and increased processing of oxidised ore as mining advances toward the extremities of the orebody. Despite these headwinds, Mimosa remains a globally competitive, low-cost producer with completed capital projects, including a new tailings storage facility.

Unki Mines, owned by Anglo American Platinum, continues to operate as Zimbabwe’s third major PGM producer, contributing steady output from its Shurugwi operations.

Minister Kambamura’s year-end deadline reflects a coordinated strategy to expand Zimbabwe’s PGM producer base from three to as many as six operational mines. When fully realised, Darwendale, Karo, and Bravura Selous will add significant production capacity, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and deepen the country’s integration into global clean energy supply chains.

As the Minister told the packed Cape Town venue, the appetite is unmistakable. The task now is execution.

Mutapa Base Metals Seeks Strategic Partner for Chrome Beneficiation

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Mutapa Base Metals Seeks Strategic Partner for Chrome Beneficiation

CAPE TOWN – Mutapa Base Metals is actively pursuing a strategic equity partner to drive a full return to chrome beneficiation, targeting production of 120,000 metric tonnes of high-carbon ferrochrome per annum and generating revenue close to US$180 million in the initial phase, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking from a detailed roadmap presentation at the Mutapa Mining Indaba Symposium in Cape Town, Mutapa Base Metals Chief Executive Officer Godwin Gambiza outlined the company’s pivot away from raw chrome exports toward integrated smelting capacity anchored by the resuscitation of the Gweru ferrochrome refinery.

“Mutapa Base Metals has placed priority on a full return to beneficiation through the Gweru refinery,” Gambiza said. “This will be achieved through forming partnerships with investors to produce ferrochrome, leveraging the high-grade quality of the resource and tapping into the growing global demand for stainless steel.”

US$60 Million Initial Phase, Scalable to Meet Demand

The partnership model envisages an initial investment phase of US$60 million, with provisions to scale up in line with growing demand and supporting fundamentals, including firm power supply and appropriate pricing mechanisms.

The partner will make an equity investment while also providing funding for exploration, feasibility studies, construction of beneficiation capacity, and, critically, an energy solution to power the smelter.

Geological Edge: 38% Minimum Chromium Oxide

Gambiza positioned the chrome resource’s quality as the partnership’s primary success factor, revealing grades that significantly exceed typical global benchmarks.

“The Base Metals company’s strength lies in a vast resource of high-quality chrome reserves of around 38% minimum chromium oxide,” he stated.

For context, he drew a direct comparison with South Africa, the world’s largest chrome producer. “If you compare with the South African resource, you talk of lower 30s,” Gambiza said.

This grade differential is critical. Higher chromium oxide content translates directly to lower energy consumption and higher efficiency in ferrochrome smelting, a decisive competitive advantage, particularly given Zimbabwe’s power constraints. The 38% baseline confirms Mutapa Base Metals is targeting high-grade metallurgical chrome ideally suited for ferrochrome production.

Although the resource statement is now outdated, having last been completed in 2010, the term sheet requires full exploration to be carried out. A recent desktop study based on depletion sheets revealed that the chrome company “still hosts significant deposits of chrome,” and Gambiza confirmed this estimate has been accepted by the potential investors currently being engaged.”

The resource will be exploited through both opencast operations and underground mining.

Mutapa Base Metals’ chrome portfolio is anchored by Zimbabwe Alloys Limited (ZimAlloys), a company with significant concessions on the Great Dyke that historically mined both on-reef and off-reef to produce feed for its now-defunct ferrochrome smelters at the Gweru refinery.

The company faced operational challenges and entered judicial management in 2012 under the previous shareholders. Kuvimba Mining House acquired the asset in 2019 and successfully took the company out of judicial management in July 2021, paying off both offshore and local creditors.

Since then, the company has operated under Kuvimba Mining House, which was recently restructured by its shareholder, the Mutapa Investment Fund, into four commodity-focused verticals. Mutapa Base Metals now runs Mutapa’s chrome assets, among others that may be announced in the future.

Current Operations: Ramping Up Concentrate Production

The current business model is premised on chrome concentrate and lumpy ore production, with the bulk of the product finding its way to export markets.

Gambiza confirmed that Mutapa Base Metals is commissioning additional chrome wash plants at Doro Range and Inyala in March 2026 and July 2026, respectively. Production is expected to stabilise at around 11,000 tonnes per month of chrome concentrate by mid-2026.

“This will position Mutapa Base Metals as a leading chrome concentrate producer in the country,” he said, noting that lumpy ore production is also anticipated to increase to 25,000 tonnes per month.

The operations are strategically located across the Great Dyke, including the North Dyke and Middle Dyke in Lalapanzi.

This expansion will register a significant increase in job creation, with the labour complement anticipated to reach 1,500 from the current 260, while contributions to the fiscus will be recognised through taxes.

Gambiza listed four critical success factors underpinning the partnership search:

  1. Existence of geological potential – Confirmed by high-quality chrome reserves (38% minimum Cr₂O₃, compared to South Africa’s lower 30s) and investor acceptance of desktop study estimates.
  2. Attractive regulatory and fiscal frameworks, supported by policy consistency which will serve as guarantees to investors.
  3. Favourable social and economic environment.
  4. Robust plans for energy generation and transmission, and affordable power to support beneficiation.

He confirmed that a term sheet with balanced terms for both the company and investors was circulated in late 2025, and submissions have since been received.

“The received submissions are currently going through review by the Mutapa Investment Fund before an adjudication exercise is undertaken to select the final partner for the development of Mutapa Base Metals’ chrome assets,” he said.

The selected partner will make an equity investment while also providing funding for exploration, feasibility studies, construction of beneficiation capacity, and an energy solution to power the smelter. In return, the partner will enjoy exclusive offtake rights for the mineral products.

The partnership search represents a fundamental strategic pivot. Gambiza confirmed that Mutapa Base Metals is moving “away from a value chain that is currently focused on direct export of unbeneficiated chrome to align the ore to infrastructure such as smelters.”

This is the ultimate objective of local beneficiation before stainless steel production, “the final leg of value addition in destination markets.”

The forecast is to produce around 120,000 metric tonnes of high-carbon ferrochrome per annum, generating revenue close to US$180 million in the initial phase, with later scale-up to satisfy growing demand in line with other fundamentals supporting such growth, including firm power supply and appropriate pricing mechanisms.

For investors willing to meet these terms, Gambiza’s message was clear: the geological foundation is proven—with grades that outcompete regional rivals—the fiscal framework is settled, the production ramp-up is underway, and the partnership window is open.

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