The Government of Zimbabwe has classified several minerals as critical, special critical and strategic to strengthen strategic planning, beneficiation and sustainable exploitation.
The new policy was announced by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Polite Kambamura, at a media conference in Harare last week.
Critical minerals include lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, copper, rare earth elements, chrome, platinum group metals, manganese, antimony, uranium, ruthenium, tungsten and niobium.
Metallurgical coal has been declared a special critical mineral, while limestone, potash, phosphorus, iron ore, pyrites, oil and gas, coal, gold and diamonds have been classified as strategic minerals.
Under the Critical Minerals Development Strategy, the Government said designated Special Purpose Vehicles would hold a mandatory minimum shareholding in the exploitation of critical minerals.
No one will be allowed to export listed minerals in raw or unbeneficiated form unless authorised under a transitional plan approved by the Minister of Mines, with clear timelines for local beneficiation.
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