Zimbabwe Mining News and Commentary

Rio’s Zimbabwe spin-off to acquire Murowa diamond mine

Cecilia Jamasmie | May 24, 2012

Zimbabwean miner RioZim Limited is negotiating with global giant Rio Tinto in an attempt to acquire the now jointly own Murowa diamond mine in the in south central region of the country.

Mbada Diamonds produces 12 million carats

Newswire | May 22, 2012

Mbada Diamonds has produced almost 12 million carats worth half a billion dollars over the past one-and-half years after injecting total investments of only $185 million, Parliament was told yesterday.
Zimbabwe Government: No going back on mining fees

Cecilia Jamasmie | May 15, 2012

The government of Zimbabwe said the new mining licence fees gazetted in January will not be reversed despite calls by the mining industry for the levies to be reduced.
Zimbabwe mining revenues up 10% to $458 million

Andrew Topf | May 3, 2012

Zimbabwe's mine output increased in the first quarter, leading to surging revenues for government coffers, NewsDay is reporting.
Zimbabwe tries to woo back explorers

Andrew Topf | April 17, 2012

Zimbabwe, whose government in January hiked exploration fees by up to 8,000% in a bid to curb speculative holding of mining titles, is ordering over 100 exploration companies to resubmit applications.
A pretty infographic to take on the Kimberley Process

Michael Allan McCrae | April 11, 2012

MINING.com reported on how opponents and proponents of hydraulic fracturing were using videos and infographics to argue their case. Now a London jeweler, Ingle and Rhode, is taking on the Kimberely Process and using an infographic to explain why, according to the company, that the standard is not up to snuff.
Reports of Mugabe's death are greatly exaggerated

Frik Els | April 10, 2012

Widely circulated reports that the 88-year old were fighting for his life in a Singapore hospital were deemed to be "lies meant to destabilise Zimbabwe," according to a spokesman.
Zimbabwe 'owns' majority of all foreign mining companies

Cecilia Jamasmie | April 5, 2012

Zimbabwe's Black Empowerment Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, announced today it has taken majority ownership of foreign-owned mining firms, which had not already given a controlling stake to black Zimbabweans.
High costs plague Zimbabwe coal miners

Business Live South Africa | April 1, 2012

Zimbabwe is estimated to hold between 10 billion and 20 billion tonnes of coal resources.
Zimbabwe going swimmingly for Caledonia, but platinum rights in South Africa go missing

Frik Els | March 30, 2012

Production at Blanket in Zimbabwe doubled and the Toronto-based company said it paid direct and indirect taxes, royalties, licence fees, levies and other monies to the Government of Zimbabwe totalling $13,6 million.
Zimbabwe diamond mine pay deal agreed

Scotland on Sunday Online | March 27, 2012

ANJIN, the biggest miner operating in Zimbabwe’s controversial Marange diamond fields, said yesterday a two-day strike by workers had ended after management agreed to a 25 per cent wage rise.
Rio diamond mines may be on the block

Andrew Topf | March 27, 2012

London-based diversified miner Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) is taking a page out of BHP Billiton's playbook and is looking at selling some or all of its diamond mines.
Botswana Diamonds releases sparkling interim results

Cecilia Jamasmie | March 23, 2012

London-listed diamond junior Botswana Diamonds (LON:BOD) forecasts a cheerful future for the diamond market, despite it sliding into the red in the six months to the end of December with a pre-tax loss of over US$327,000.
Australia, Canada, Chile, Brazil and Mexico the top five mining projects’ destinations

Cecilia Jamasmie | March 23, 2012

In its annual ranking of countries in terms of political risks for mining investment, the mineral industry advisory firm Behre Dolbear, has ranked Australia, Canada, Chile, Brazil and Mexico as the top five nations in which to locate mining projects.
Zimbabwe orders mining firms to bank locally: paper

Reuters Africa | March 18, 2012

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu told the Sunday Mail that cabinet last week had decided to tell mining companies to bring back earnings from their Zimbabwe operations which were deposited in offshore accounts. "We have been liberal. It does not make se…
Diamond shortfall could shut Zimbabwe government: minister

AFP | March 14, 2012

Zimbabwe Finance Minister Tendai Biti on Wednesday warned the government could shut down, as new diamond sales from the controversial Marange fields are falling far short of expectations.
Zimbabwe's 2012 Gold Output Slower than Expected

Gold Investing News | March 14, 2012

Reuters reported that Zimbabwe gold production has started slow this year, missing output targets. As quoted in the market news: Gold production reached 8 tonnes in 2011, up from a low of just over 3 tonnes.
Impala Platinum transferring 51% of mine stake to Zimbabwe’s government called 'naive and irresponsible'

Cecilia Jamasmie | March 14, 2012

South Africa's Impala Platinum Holdings (Implats), the world’s second-largest platinum producer by volume, has agreed to transfer 51% of Zimplats, its subsidiary in Zimbabwe, after long-drawn-out negotiations with the government of that country.
Zimplats targets 1 million platinum ounces a year

Platinum today | March 9, 2012

Mines belonging to Zimplats, the Zimbabwe unit of Impala Platinum, have at least 30 years of production left in them and could deliver one million platinum ounces annually, according to chief operating officer Stanley Segula.
Zimbabwe partially rejects Mimosa indigenisation plan

Mining Weekly | February 25, 2012

Platinum miners Impala Platinum (Implats) and Aquarius Platinum said on Friday that Zimbabwe had rejected a portion of the indigenisation plan for the Mimosa mine, which they jointly own.
Caledonia gives 51% of Blanket to indigenous Zimbabweans

MINING.com News | February 20, 2012

Caledonia Mining announced on Monday it has signed a deal with the Zimbabwe government to sell 51% of its Blanket mine to indigenous Zimbabweans for $30 million. The purchase price will be paid to Caledonia from future Blanket dividend payments.
Making Sure That Valentine Diamond Isn’t Tainted by Blood: View

Bloomberg | February 16, 2012

It being the feast of Saint Valentine, today is a favored moment to give or receive that ultimate lovers’ gift: a diamond. This year, however, isn’t a good one for those who want to know for sure that the stone’s origins are above reproach.
Tsvangirai tours diamond mines

New Zimbabwe.com | February 16, 2012

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Thursday the government desperately needs revenue from diamond sales, after the lifting of a global ban imposed over military abuses.
Report says Mugabe's police running diamond mines

Andrew Topf | February 15, 2012

A report published this week by Global Witness, an international human rights group, says that companies mining the controversial Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe have senior personnel drawn from security forces loyal to President Robert Mugabe.
Another Zimbabwe diamond mine gets OK

News24.com | February 13, 2012

International diamond watchdog the Kimberley Process (KP) has certified Zimbabwe's Diamond Mining Company to sell gems from the violence-tainted Marange fields, state media reported on Sunday.
Zimbabwe diamond miner gets 'watchdog approval' (AFP)

Yahoo! News Australia | February 12, 2012

HARARE (AFP) – International diamond watchdog the Kimberley Process (KP) has certified Zimbabwe's Diamond Mining Company to sell gems from the violence-tainted Marange fields, state media reported on Sunday.The firm, a joint venture between the Zimbabw…