The gold production landscape in Zimbabwe for 2024 revealed a remarkable performance by small-scale miners, who for years have consistently outperfomed primary producers, stats from Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) have revealed.
by Keith Sungiso
With an annual contribution of 23,745.64 kg, small-scale miners submitted 65% of the total gold output of 36,486.75 kg, compared to 12,741.11 kg produced by primary operations.
Month to month Comparisons
Q1: A Mixed Start
- January: Small-scale miners set the tone early, producing 1,333.44 kg, surpassing primary producers’ 1,108.82 kg by 20%.
- February: A brief dip saw small-scale miners trailing with 864.31 kg compared to primary producers’ 988.70 kg, marking one of the few months where primary producers led.
- March: Small-scale miners produced 770.98 kg, while primary producers delivered 1,045.56 kg, further narrowing the gap. Small- scale miners trailed in this quarter.
Q2: ASM Gained Momentum
- April: Small-scale miners rebounded strongly with 1,218.20 kg, slightly outpacing large scale producers’ 1,168.70 kg.
- May and June: Small-scale miners surged ahead with 1,678.45 kg and 1,618.51 kg, compared to 1,055.69 kg and 999.87 kg from primary producers.
Q3: Small-Scale Miners take Command
- July: Small-scale miners nearly doubled primary production, delivering 2,425.65 kg against 1,151.77 kg.
- August and September: Small-scale operations maintained their dominance, contributing over 2,390 kg each month, significantly ahead of primary producers.
Q4: Small-scale massive domination
- October: The disparity peaked as small-scale miners produced a record 3,248.95 kg, more than tripling primary producers’ output of 1,024.63 kg.
- November and December: The year ended on a high note for small-scale miners, producing 2,651.80 kg in November and 3,127.72 kg in December, far ahead of primary operations’ 1126.36kg and 1034.51kg respectively.
Key Observations
- Small-Scale Miners dominate submissions: Except for February and March, small-scale miners outperformed primary producers in every month. this has been happening for years. However a lot needs to be done for the ASM miners to be able to attract funding from financial institutions.
- Significant Growth: Small-scale miners demonstrated the ability to ramp up production, especially in the latter half of the year. This is despite the lack of mechanisation at the bulk of the mines.
- Primary Producers’ Stability and Chinese gold miners invisibility: While primary producers maintained a steady output, their peak production of 1,168.70 kg in April was dwarfed by small-scale miners’ performance in multiple months. Chinese mines are also less visible in the primary producers category. By Zimbabwe standards Chinese miners are likely to fall into the medium to primary producer’s category. Gold Mobilisation task force must conduct throughout vetting to determine their contribution in gold submissions. In August 2024 Zambian authorities seized 29.9 kilograms of gold and usd$200,000 in cash hidden within the door panels of a Zimbabwe vehicle registered to a Chinese national.
Annual Totals
- Small-Scale Miners: 23,745.64 kg (65%)
- Primary Producers: 12,741.11 kg (35%)
The year 2024 underscored the vital role of small-scale miners in Zimbabwe’s gold mining sector. ASMiners cemented their position as the leading contributors to national gold production but also highlighted the potential of the poorly funded sector to drive economic growth.
Meanwhile, primary producers, though steady, will need to explore strategies to enhance their competitiveness in the coming years.
