Zimbabwe bans raw beryl and feldspar exports

Zimbabwe has officially banned the export of unbeneficiated beryl and feldspar through Statutory Instrument 156 of 2024. Issued by Minister of Mines and Mining Development Soda Zhemu, the regulation requires a written permit for any such exports, except under exceptional circumstances.

This move is part of a broader resource nationalism strategy aimed at forcing mining companies to invest in domestic processing facilities rather than exporting raw ores. The policy follows a similar 2022 ban on raw lithium exports. Beryl is a key source of beryllium for aerospace and defense, while feldspar is essential for glass and ceramics manufacturing.

To support these industrial shifts, there are calls for the country to adopt more aggressive global marketing campaigns. While Zimbabwe possesses over 60 tradable minerals, including platinum-group metals and gold, experts suggest the nation must increase its presence at international mining conferences to attract the investment necessary for beneficiation and infrastructure development.