Business / Economy
Zimbabwe gold sector needs $1 billion for revival
13 Apr 2011 at 14:09hrs | Views
JOHANNESBURG's miningweekly.com reports that Zimbabwe's gold mining sector would need $1-billion over the next five years to get the industry back on track, a consultant for TSX- and Aim-listed Caledonia, which operates a gold mine in that country, said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a gold conference in Johannesburg, Dr Trevor Pearson said that Zimbabwe had seen almost a complete hiatus in spending on its mines over a ten-year period up to 2009/10, resulting in most operations falling into a dilapidated state.
In 1999, the country's yearly gold production peaked at 28 000 kg, but almost immediately started a rapid decline in line with political upheavals that beset the country, bottoming at 3 100 kg in 2008 when the economy collapsed and the central bank stopped paying mines for deliveries.
After the economic recession and the establishment of a Government of National Unity, the industry started a slow recovery, but was once again tripped-up by the uncertainty that indigenous policy matters brought with it.
Pearson said that an investment of about $120-million this year could see the first eight mines being refurbished and starting production. "We are seeing a strong gold price, and mining companies are ready to start up some mines, but are being blocked from acquiring the necessary offshore funds, because of indigenisation issues.
"Companies that are able to generate some funding of their own have committed up to about $10-million to spend this year on projects."
The estimated gold production in Zimbabwe for 2010, was about 8 000 kg, and this year production is set to increase by 30% to 40%, but Pearson stressed that significant further progress could be made in the development of the gold industry if policy issues were sorted out.
"Mining companies that are currently operating in the country would like to see the indigenisation being incorporated as a moderate process that provides for the growth of the industry, but do not just seek to trap all revenue.
"The more economically viable the Zimbabwean government makes its mining industry, the more revenue it will be able to also generate for the State," added Pearson.
Speaking at a gold conference in Johannesburg, Dr Trevor Pearson said that Zimbabwe had seen almost a complete hiatus in spending on its mines over a ten-year period up to 2009/10, resulting in most operations falling into a dilapidated state.
In 1999, the country's yearly gold production peaked at 28 000 kg, but almost immediately started a rapid decline in line with political upheavals that beset the country, bottoming at 3 100 kg in 2008 when the economy collapsed and the central bank stopped paying mines for deliveries.
After the economic recession and the establishment of a Government of National Unity, the industry started a slow recovery, but was once again tripped-up by the uncertainty that indigenous policy matters brought with it.
Pearson said that an investment of about $120-million this year could see the first eight mines being refurbished and starting production. "We are seeing a strong gold price, and mining companies are ready to start up some mines, but are being blocked from acquiring the necessary offshore funds, because of indigenisation issues.
"Companies that are able to generate some funding of their own have committed up to about $10-million to spend this year on projects."
The estimated gold production in Zimbabwe for 2010, was about 8 000 kg, and this year production is set to increase by 30% to 40%, but Pearson stressed that significant further progress could be made in the development of the gold industry if policy issues were sorted out.
"Mining companies that are currently operating in the country would like to see the indigenisation being incorporated as a moderate process that provides for the growth of the industry, but do not just seek to trap all revenue.
"The more economically viable the Zimbabwean government makes its mining industry, the more revenue it will be able to also generate for the State," added Pearson.
Source - Miningweekly
