Zimbabwe bans raw chrome exports

Cabinet has approved an immediate ban on all exports of unprocessed chrome ore in order to protect Zimbabwe’s ferrochrome industry, which it says is integral to secure a US$12bn industry by 2023. Announcing the latest strategy to boost the mining sector, Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the moratorium on raw chrome ore exports would promote the local value-addition chain. ‘The ban will capacitate current smelters and maximise the value chain to be realised from the country's abundant resources as spelt out in the National Development Strategy,’ she said. New Zimbabwe reports that the external trade in chrome concentrates will be stopped from July next year. Zimbabwe has the world’s second biggest resources of chrome ore which is required for metallurgical processes such as steel manufacturing.