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Zimbabwe is poised to become a global leader in the Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) market, following the successful commissioning of the expanded Zimplats smelter.
By Ryan Chigoche
President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressed optimism that the enhanced capacity will not only position the country as a regional hub for PGM processing but also elevate it to the forefront of the global market.
The President made the remarks on July 23, 2025, during the official commissioning ceremony of the Zimplats Smelter Expansion Project and Phase 1A of the 35MW Solar Plant, held at the Selous Metallurgical Complex.
This event marked a major milestone in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on October 18, 2021, between the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Zimplats).
The MOU outlines a roadmap for the sustainable development of integrated PGM projects under Zimplats’ ambitious US$1.8 billion expansion programme.
The smelter expansion and Phase 1 SO₂ Abatement Project represent a US$398 million investment that commenced in December 2021. Remarkably, the project was completed within just 36 months.
Speaking at the launch, President Mnangagwa said:
“This expansion will ensure that Zimbabwe becomes a leader in the global platinum market, as Zimplats has created capacity to toll refine concentrates from third parties. Increasing smelting capacity to over one million ounces of all six elements of the Platinum Group Metals (platinum, palladium, gold, rhodium, ruthenium, and iridium) in converter matte per annum is a significant boost to our value addition efforts in the platinum group metals sector. This increased capacity has the potential to transform Zimbabwe into a regional hub for platinum processing, creating jobs and stimulating downstream industries. I am particularly pleased to note that the expanded smelter has the capacity to accommodate other platinum group metal producers in the country.”
The project saw Hatch serving as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) contractor. A state-of-the-art 38MW furnace was constructed, tripling Zimplats’ smelting capacity to 380,000 tonnes of concentrate per annum—equivalent to 1.09 million ounces of 6E metals.
The scale of the project is staggering: it spans an area the size of 12 football fields and involved thousands of tonnes of materials and hundreds of kilometres of cabling, all brought together to establish a world-class metallurgical facility.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando praised the plant’s technological advancement and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting sustainable mining operations.
“It is not just the scale that impresses; it is the technological sophistication. From the 6-inline rectangular furnace to the integrated furnace feed controller, digital twinning for managing aisle logistics, flash drying, Pierce-Smith converting, and advanced PLC and SCADA control systems, Zimplats has embraced innovation to achieve unparalleled efficiency and productivity.”
“As Minister of Mines and Mining Development, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to creating a conducive environment for investment and sustainable growth. We will continue to support initiatives that promote sustainable mining practices, job creation, and community development,” Chitando added.
In addition to the smelter, the President also commissioned the first phase of Zimplats’ 185MW solar power project on the same day — a bold step toward reducing the mine’s carbon footprint and ensuring energy self-sufficiency.
The 35MW Phase 1A plant, now operational, is part of the company’s broader commitment to sustainability and climate resilience.
Zimplats was widely praised for the dual achievements, which demonstrate not only its engineering excellence but also its alignment with Zimbabwe’s broader beneficiation and energy transition goals.
Together, the smelter expansion and solar plant underscore the strength of public-private partnerships in unlocking value from the country’s vast mineral wealth — while laying the groundwork for long-term economic transformation.
