China’s Sinomine Resource Group has announced that its Tsumeb Smelter in Namibia contains 746 metric tons of germanium, a vital mineral used in chipmaking, infrared technology, fiber optic cables, and solar cells. The company revealed plans to explore the feasibility of upgrading the existing copper smelting production line at the smelter to include germanium and zinc smelting capabilities, aiming to achieve commercial production swiftly.
The Tsumeb Smelter, owned by Sinomine through its subsidiary Sinomine (Hong Kong) Rare Metals Resources, in which it holds a 98% stake, also has tailings that contain around 410 tons of gallium metal and 209,459 tons of zinc metal. These figures were reported in accordance with the NI 43-101 standards, which are regulatory guidelines for mineral project disclosures.
This development comes as China, the world’s largest producer of germanium, has implemented export controls on this strategic metal since August 1, adding to the global significance of Sinomine’s findings at the Tsumeb site. 
