PGMs prop up Zimbabwean mineral production 23rd May 2007

New figures have shown that platinum and palladium are underpinning the Zimbabwean mining industry.

Data published by the Zimbabwean Chamber of Mines has shown that mineral production in the country has fallen over the past 15 years, with only platinum and palladium production seeing output increases during that period.

The Herald newspaper reports that the figures show platinum output has risen in Zimbabwe from just seven kilogrammes in 1996 to over 4,700 kilogrammes last year, due in most part to massive investment in the platinum mining sector from South Africa's Impala Platinum.

Palladium production also saw good growth in Zimbabwe between 1996 and 2006, from under ten kilogrammes ten years ago to 4,000 kilogrammes by the end of last year.

While the production of platinum group metals (pgms) has flourished in Zimbabwe, the Chamber of Mines report shows that production of all other minerals has fallen.

Source : www.platinum.matthey.com