Zimbabwe plans to resume key phases of its long-awaited national aeromagnetic survey in 2027, with Government indicating that negotiations to conclude the financing arrangements for the project are nearing completion.
The survey, designed to generate high-resolution geological data for the mining industry, is expected to strengthen mineral exploration, attract fresh investment and unlock previously unidentified mineral deposits across the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Association of Mine Managers of Zimbabwe’s 54th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting in Nyanga, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Fred Moyo said preparations for the next phase of the project were progressing, with financial closure discussions nearing completion.
“Discussions with our financial supporter, the closure is basically done,” Moyo said.
He said implementation had been deferred to 2027 to avoid weather-related disruptions that can affect low-altitude survey flights conducted by fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
The aeromagnetic survey is regarded as a critical component of Zimbabwe’s mining development strategy, particularly as large portions of the country remain underexplored. Government estimates indicate that only about 40 percent of Zimbabwe’s land area has been adequately explored for minerals, largely due to outdated geological data and decades of underinvestment in exploration.
Using airborne sensors to measure variations in the Earth’s magnetic field, the survey will help geologists identify concealed geological structures associated with minerals such as gold, platinum, nickel, copper and lithium.
Officials said updating the country’s geological database is essential to supporting exploration and attracting mining investment. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise geological information and provide investors with accurate data on Zimbabwe’s mineral potential.
Moyo said the survey would incorporate advanced mapping technologies capable of identifying both major and smaller mineral deposits, including critical minerals required for emerging energy and industrial technologies.
He urged mining companies to intensify exploration activities once the new geological data becomes available, arguing that reliable geological information is the foundation upon which mining development and investment decisions are built.
The deputy minister also called for stronger collaboration between the Department of Geological Survey and mining companies, while urging financial institutions to play a greater role in funding mineral exploration projects.
The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe welcomed efforts to improve geological data availability but stressed that attracting investment would also require a competitive operating environment, including reliable electricity supply, access to foreign currency and stable mining policies.
The mining sector contributes between 12 and 15 percent of Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product and accounts for more than 75 percent of the country’s export earnings, making exploration investment critical to sustaining future growth. 
