The importance of mining to the economy cannot be over-emphasised. Approximately 40 percent of Zimbabwe's foreign exchange is derived from the export of metals, minerals and mineral-related products. In 1993 mining-related exports amounted to $3,18 billion, of which 44 percent was accounted for by gold, 22 percent steel and ferro-alloys, 17 percent by nickel, copper and tin and 14 percent by industrial minerals such as asbestos, dimension stone, coal and graphite. Other exports include diamonds, emeralds, cobalt, lithium minerals and magnesite.
Apart from its contribution to exports, the mining industry plays an important role in providing essential mineral-based raw materials to the local manufacturing industry. It creates direct employment for approximately 50 000 workers. Housing is provided for almost all workers and, in addition, the mines also provide medical, educational, recreational, social and other services for employees and their dependants.
A few major mining groups produce the bulk of Zimbabwe's mineral output. Hundreds of other smaller mines provide the remainder. The future of the industry is assured, given the extensive reserves of chrysotile asbestos, chromite, iron ore, lithium ore and coal.
An impressive infrastructure has been developed to support the mining industry. This includes a well-maintained system of paved roads, railway links to all the major mining areas, an electricity grid covering most of the country and numerous industries manufacturing a wide range of mining inputs. In addition, Zimbabwe has modern financial and banking facilities.
Manpower training for the mining industry is carried out by the Zimbabwe School of Mines and the University of Zimbabwe, which offers degrees in Mining Engineering, Metallurgy, Geology and Geophysics. The Institute of Mining Research offers a multi-disciplinary approach to all aspects of mineral exploration, mining, mineral processing and metallurgy.
The world's third-largest known resource of high grade chromite is found in an area known as the Great Dyke. Also located in this area is the world's second-largest resource of platinum group metals, as well as significant reserves of nickel. In September 1994, the Hartley Platinum mine, financed by Australian joint venture partners and constituting the largest single mining investment ever made in this country, was officially opened by H.E. the President. In due course this property will produce platinum, palladium, rhodium, gold, nickel and copper.
Gold, Zimbabwe's most important mineral, is currently mined in some 600 registered mining operations with tonnage produced for treatment varying between a few tonnes per month and 0.75 million tonnes of ore per year. Several Australian, British and Canadian companies have recently invested in Zimbabwe to exploit this vast resource.
The gold belts are also the source of Zimbabwe's nickel, asbestos, iron ore and pyrites production and contain reserves of antimony, tungsten, corundum and limestone.
In order to encourage development of the mining industry, the government provides free geological, metallurgical and advisory engineering services to those mines which do not have their own expertise. It also operates a roasting plant at Kwekwe for the treatment of gold-bearing refractory concentrates. The mining community may also obtain advice and assistance by utilising the extensive facilities of the Institute of Mining Research, which is partially funded by government.
Coal is one of Zimbabwe's primary energy sources. High quality coal deposits occur in Hwange, other parts of North Matabeleland, the Zambezi valley and in the South east, adjacent to the Gona-re-Zhou National Park. All Zimbabwe's coal output is currently produced in the Hwange area.
The Makonde basin, in the north-west of Zimbabwe, contains the country's copper and graphite mines. It also has reserves of lead, zinc and silver.
The diverse mineral deposits, combined with the excellent infrastructure in Zimbabwe, offersignificant opportunities to investors. The interest in exclusive prospecting orders continues at a very encouraging level, to the extent that currently over 80 percent of the country is covered either by exploration rights already granted or by areas which are the subject of new applications awaiting processing by the Mining Affairs Board. In recent years diamonds have become the most popular target mineral, this being the result of the country-wide aeromagnetic survey conducted by the Canadian CIDA group, which drew attention to a number of potentially diamondiferous areas which appeared to justify detailed follow-up operations on the ground.