The government of Zimbabwe may force platinum mining companies to build processing plants in the country in an effort to boost jobs and revenue.

According to News Day, ministers plan to introduce laws that would prevent miners from exporting unprocessed minerals over fears that the country is losing out to South Africa.

"They should start setting up refineries before we force them to do so," said mines and mining development minister Obert Mpofu.

"If they don’t do it on their own then I will be formulating laws that will stop the exportation of concentrates to South Africa."

He also indicated that the measure would help Zimbabwe to tax firms for some of the by-products of platinum refining, such as gold and vanadium.

It comes as platinum miners are being forced by the government to sell a 51 per cent equity stake in their local Zimbabwean operations to local black investors.

Source:

Govt tightens screws on platinum miners (14/12/11)

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