Zimbabwe has vast mineral resources , with over 60 different minerals throughout the country. The country’s rich mineral resource base holds gold, precious stones, other gemstones, base metals and energy minerals. The mineral resource base presents lucrative opportunities for exploration, mining and beneficiation. Mineral exports account for over 50% of the country’s foreign export earnings. The sector contributes about 16% to the GDP.
The Great Dyke hosts the world’s second largest reserves of platinum group metals (PGM). The country has more than 4 000 recorded gold deposits, 90% of which are associated with greenstone belts that are some of the richest in the world. The country also has the largest chrome ore resources in the world.
The country presents vast opportunities in the diamond sector, from mining to value addition and beneficiation. It is estimated that Zimbabwe has 25% of the world’s diamond reserves.
Zimbabwe is estimated to have more than 20 Trillion Cubic Feet (TFC) of quality Coal Bed Methane available for exploration and production.
There are an estimated over 26 billion tonnes of coal reserves. The Hwange area has large reserves of both coking and thermal coal.
The country currently exports about 166 000 cubic metres of raw granite per annum.
Investment Opportunities in The Mining Sector
| INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY | MINERAL OCCURANCE | INDUSTRY |
| Mineral Exploration and Extraction | Gold, Coal, Coal-Bed Methane, Chrome, Black Granite, Diamonds | · New Project Development· Resuscitation of closed mines and recapitalization of Lithium and Nickel mines |
| Value Addition | Lithium | · Lithium chemicals· Lithium Batteries |
| Limestone | · Cement | |
| Gold | · Jewellery | |
| Black Granite | · Construction Industry· Dimensional Stone Polishing | |
| DiamondGemstones and semi-precious stones | · Cutting and Polishing· Jewellery | |
| Iron Ore, Nickel and Chrome | · Steel mnufacturing | |
| Coal | · Conversion of coal to liquid fuel· Electricity generation for domestic consumption and export
· Cement and brick manufacturing (using ash from combusted coal) · Fertilizer manufacturing |
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| Phosphate and Coal Bed Methane | · Fertilizer manufacturing | |
| Platinum | · Platinum refinery | |
| Chrome ore | · Chrome ore processing | |
| Iron and Steel | · Resuscitation of ZISCOSTEEL |