The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (COMZ) is optimistic government will speed up lifting the ban on raw chromium exports and bring sanity to the chrome industry, which is operating below capacity.

Chamber president Winston Chitando said he was positive the government would speed up launching a new export policy.

He said the chrome industry is not in the best shape and discussions are going on with the government with regards to issues on the lifting of the (raw) chrome export ban. Chitando said they are hoping that the law will be implemented sooner rather than later as they have talked to the minister and they have been told that it is well.

The new policy, dubbed the Mine and Minerals Chrome Export Control Regulation 2013, will define the type of chrome to be exported, how to apply for the permit to export and specific documents required as well as destination of export.

Last year chrome production dwindled by 45,5percent, with cumulative production pegged at 408 475 tonnes against an initial annual target of 750 000 tonnes. The decline in chrome output was attributed to the scaling down in mining and smelting operations to 40 percent by Zimasco, the country's largest ferrochrome producer.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Mines will host its 74th annual general meeting in Nyanga next week which will run under the theme : "Where to from here: managing and developing the mineral wealth of Zimbabwe for tomorrow."

The conference is expected to create the necessary platforms for greater co-operation between private sector and state institutions. It will also discuss measures to position the country to lure the capital needed in the mining industry as well as what needs to be done in the coming years to enhance mining's contribution to economic development.