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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 27470, member: 2262"] Zimbabwe will produce nearly the same amount of platinum in 2025 as it did in 2024—around 514,000 ounces compared to 512,000 ounces. This steady output happens as the world needs more platinum than miners can dig up. The latest World Platinum Investment Council report shows global platinum supplies will drop by 4 percent to 7 million ounces. South African mines face big problems, yet Zimbabwe keeps its production stable despite energy shortages and economic troubles across the region. For the third year running, platinum demand will exceed supply worldwide. The market will need 848,000 more ounces than miners can produce in 2025, slightly better than the 995,000-ounce shortage in 2024. Investors keep buying platinum because they see ongoing shortages, shrinking stockpiles, and platinum costing much less than gold. Exchange-traded funds and stockpiling help balance market disruptions caused by global politics, including possible US trade tariffs that mess up normal supply chains. Industrial platinum use will fall by 14 percent to 2.12 million ounces next year, mainly because chemical plants and glass factories need less. Cars remain a major platinum user, but fewer Europeans buying diesel vehicles hurt demand. Zimbabwe should think about how these market changes might affect long-term mining plans and opportunities to make finished products instead of just selling raw materials. Energy will be Zimbabwe's biggest challenge for platinum mining in 2025. The mines depend heavily on the national power grid, which struggles to deliver enough electricity. Low water levels at Kariba Dam limit the hydroelectric plant's power output. Poor rainfall in 2024 reduced water reserves at Kariba, cutting electricity production. Mining companies complain that unreliable power hurts their business because they must use expensive diesel generators as backups. Beyond basic supply and demand issues, disagreements between Zimbabwe's government and mining companies create uncertainty. The government wants platinum processed locally instead of shipping out raw materials, but mining companies say bad infrastructure, unreliable electricity, and high costs make local processing unprofitable. If the government and mining businesses can agree on solutions to these operational and policy problems, Zimbabwe could benefit greatly from its rich platinum deposits. The country has a chance to build a stronger mining sector despite the challenges it faces today. [/QUOTE]

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