OPIS Insights

Zimbabwe plans “very soon” to expand a chrome ore export ban to include chrome concentrate, as President Emmerson Mnangagwe doubles down on his ambitious plan to move the country up the chrome value chain.

“Zimbabwe has been deliberate in its shift from supplying raw minerals to becoming a competitive hub for mineral beneficiation,” said Mines Minister Polite Kambamura at the International Chromium Development Association conference in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

“Very soon we are moving from exporting chrome concentrate to HC ferrochrome, medium carbon ferro chrome, ferro chrome silicon, low carbon ferro chrome and charge chrome.”

Kambamura did not provide a timeline on when the export ban will be expanded. The country is forecasting chrome concentrate sales this year to surge 25% to 1.1 mt.

Zimbabwe in February banned the export of chrome ore, lithium and other raw materials to promote local beneficiation and prevent illegal trade. The government has since eased some restrictions for lithium exports, but not for chrome ore.

“The export of raw chrome is no longer aligned with our national development objectives,” Kambamura said. “We’ve taken decisive steps to ensure our minerals are value added within our borders.”

Since Zimbabwe re-instated partial export restrictions on chrome ore in 2021, Chinese investment has flooded into the country to build the infrastructure necessary to move the country up the value chain ladder.

Led by Tsingshan Holding, China’s largest stainless steel manufacturer has built steel plants, ferro chrome smelters, coking coal facilities and power stations in Zimbabwe. Tsingshan’s subsidiary Dinson Iron and Steel is investing $800m to expand its annual carbon steel production capacity from 600,000 t to 1.2 mt in the country.

Power Needs

Zimbabwe’s limited power supplies are the biggest hinderance to further development of the country’s ferro chrome industry, industry officials said.

With 14 operational ferro chrome smelters, the country’s 2025 ferro chrome production reached 433,293 t, a 19% increase from 2024.

But with the cost of power at $0.08/kWh, solely depending on the national power utility is not sustainable.

“We are telling companies to develop their own power and sell the excess to the national grid.,” said Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at the conference. “Chrome smelters that invest in their own power will receive commensurate mining titles and support.”

Due to the high energy tariffs, ferro chrome producer Zimasco is only running two out of eight furnaces and is starting to favour producing more chrome concentrates.

“We are looking at a solar plant and a thermal coal plant of 100 MW, which will supply 60% of our total energy needs,” said Reuben Zengeni, Zimasco’s general manager of marketing.

Another major ferro chrome producer Xintai, a subsidiary of China-based Xin Gang Liann is currently developing the Palm River Energy and Metallurgical Industrial Park. “We started this project just two years ago in 2024, commissioned the first furnace in March 2025, and the thirs furnace will be commissioned in August this year,” a Xintai official told McCloskey.

Located west of Beitbridge, the Palm River Energy and Metallurgical Industrial Park currently has a 100 MW coal-fired thermal power plant. The goal is to increase capacity to 1,200 MW with surplus electricity intended for the national grid.

“Smelting remains the most energy intensive metallurgical process, and while Zimbabwe’s power constraints have historically limited beneficiation, that narrative is finished,” Chiwenga said.