Zimbabwe has announced a ban on the export of antimony and tungsten, expanding its efforts to stop the shipment of raw minerals and encourage more domestic processing.
The latest policy comes months after the Southern African country prohibited the export of lithium concentrates, one of its most important mineral resources, as part of a broader strategy to retain greater economic value from its natural resources.
The government confirmed the new restrictions to the state-owned Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) in July, with the ban on antimony and tungsten taking immediate effect.
The move is expected to put pressure on mining and mineral companies to process the resources locally rather than exporting them in their raw form.
Zimbabwe has increasingly focused on developing domestic value chains around its mineral wealth. The government believes that processing minerals within the country could create more jobs, attract investment in processing industries and generate greater revenue than simply exporting unprocessed raw materials.
The decision also reflects Zimbabwe’s wider efforts to strengthen control over its mineral resources and tackle the illegal export of valuable minerals.
Antimony is a critical metal with applications across several industries. It is used in batteries, flame-resistant materials and electronics, while also having applications in specialised military equipment.
Tungsten is another strategically important mineral because of its exceptional hardness and ability to withstand extremely high temperatures. It is widely used in the production of cutting tools, mining equipment and components for the aerospace and defence industries.
Both minerals are considered valuable industrial resources, making them strategically important not only to Zimbabwe but also to other mineral-rich countries seeking to increase the benefits derived from their natural resources.
Zimbabwe’s mineral policy has come under increasing focus as the country seeks to move away from relying heavily on the export of raw materials. The government has been pushing for greater investment in local refining and processing so that more of the value generated from its mineral resources remains within the domestic economy.
The country’s earlier decision to ban lithium concentrate exports was also driven by a similar objective. Zimbabwe has some of Africa’s largest lithium reserves and has been seeking to build a domestic value chain around the battery mineral, including processing activities that could support the growing global demand for electric vehicle and energy-storage technologies.
With the latest restrictions on antimony and tungsten, Zimbabwe is further tightening its approach to the export of unprocessed minerals as it seeks to develop a more industrialised mining sector and maximise the economic benefits of its natural resources.
