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Zimbabwe urged to boost mineral exploration
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Zimbabwe has been urged to intensify mineral exploration and continuously refine its investment framework to unlock its vast geological potential and secure the long-term future of one of the country's most strategic economic sectors.
The call was made by exploration expert Allan Dolan during the inaugural Mining Exploration Symposium held on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
The symposium was officially opened by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and brought together senior government officials, mining executives, investors and exploration specialists to discuss the future of mineral exploration in Zimbabwe.
Addressing delegates, Dolan said no mining industry could remain sustainable without continuously discovering new mineral deposits to replace depleted resources.
He noted that junior exploration companies are now responsible for nearly 90 percent of new mineral discoveries globally, making them critical to the development of future mining projects.
"Junior exploration companies are, by an order of magnitude, the most successful funding structure for exploration," he said.
Drawing on the discovery of Sierra Leone's Tonkolili iron ore mine, Dolan said successful exploration has the potential to transform economies by attracting substantial investment, creating jobs and generating wealth over many decades.
He said Zimbabwe possesses exceptional geological potential but must remain internationally competitive in attracting exploration capital, particularly as investors increasingly compare mining jurisdictions before committing funds.
Dolan recommended an independent review of Zimbabwe's mining policies and fiscal framework against those of leading mining destinations to identify opportunities to improve competitiveness.
He also challenged stakeholders to examine why, despite the country's rich mineral endowment and long mining history, Zimbabwe has recorded relatively few major mineral discoveries over the past two decades and has yet to develop internationally recognised Tier One, Tier Two or Tier Three gold mines.
According to Dolan, mineral exploration should not be viewed merely as the first step towards mining but as a strategic national investment capable of driving industrialisation, export growth, employment creation and long-term economic development.
The inaugural Mining Exploration Symposium marked another milestone in Zimbabwe's efforts to position itself as a leading destination for mineral investment while strengthening collaboration between government, investors and technical experts to advance the country's exploration agenda.
The call was made by exploration expert Allan Dolan during the inaugural Mining Exploration Symposium held on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
The symposium was officially opened by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and brought together senior government officials, mining executives, investors and exploration specialists to discuss the future of mineral exploration in Zimbabwe.
Addressing delegates, Dolan said no mining industry could remain sustainable without continuously discovering new mineral deposits to replace depleted resources.
He noted that junior exploration companies are now responsible for nearly 90 percent of new mineral discoveries globally, making them critical to the development of future mining projects.
"Junior exploration companies are, by an order of magnitude, the most successful funding structure for exploration," he said.
Drawing on the discovery of Sierra Leone's Tonkolili iron ore mine, Dolan said successful exploration has the potential to transform economies by attracting substantial investment, creating jobs and generating wealth over many decades.
He said Zimbabwe possesses exceptional geological potential but must remain internationally competitive in attracting exploration capital, particularly as investors increasingly compare mining jurisdictions before committing funds.
Dolan recommended an independent review of Zimbabwe's mining policies and fiscal framework against those of leading mining destinations to identify opportunities to improve competitiveness.
He also challenged stakeholders to examine why, despite the country's rich mineral endowment and long mining history, Zimbabwe has recorded relatively few major mineral discoveries over the past two decades and has yet to develop internationally recognised Tier One, Tier Two or Tier Three gold mines.
According to Dolan, mineral exploration should not be viewed merely as the first step towards mining but as a strategic national investment capable of driving industrialisation, export growth, employment creation and long-term economic development.
The inaugural Mining Exploration Symposium marked another milestone in Zimbabwe's efforts to position itself as a leading destination for mineral investment while strengthening collaboration between government, investors and technical experts to advance the country's exploration agenda.
Source - the herald
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