By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:Paul Lwiindi, the Managing Director of Green Acre Mining has confirmed that, Inyatsi Group has ventured into an emerald multibillion mining investment in Zambia.

Emerald is a green gemstone mineral used for manufacturing jewelry, necklaces and earrings among others, it is known for its rich green hue which is caused by the trace amounts of chromium or vanadium.

Responding to this Swaziland News on Thursday afternoon, the Managing Director said, “this new Inyatsi Group’s mineral investment marks a key milestone in eSwatini’s ambition to expand its industrial and economic footprint” across the region.

“As part of the Inyatsi Group’s regional growth strategy, we are proud to announce that the Group has successfully acquired an emerald mine in Zambia. This investment marks a key milestone in Eswatini’s ambition to expand its industrial and economic footprint across the region. Zambia is the world’s largest producer of emeralds, and our operations are strategically located in the heart of the Emerald Belt in the Copperbelt Province, a region endowed with vast mineral wealth. Over the past few months, we have been focused on setting up and mobilising the mine, and I am pleased to confirm that actual mining operations have now commenced”, he said.

On another note, the Green Acre Mining Managing Director said, this venture has already started creating job opportunities for emaSwati who are part of the “on the ground” team in Zambia.

“Importantly, this venture is already creating opportunities for citizens of Eswatini, who are part of the Green Acre Mining team on the ground in Zambia. Their involvement reflects our commitment to skills transfer, regional integration and the empowerment of Swazi professionals beyond our borders,” said the Managing Director.

Zambia is the world’s largest producer of emerald, the Kagem Emerald Mine is another Mine situated in Zambia, it is operated through a joint venture with Gemfields Group owning seventy-five percent(75%) and the Zambian Government, through the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia (IDC), owning the remaining twenty-five percent(25%).

Gemfields is the operator of the Mine, which is located in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province and Inyatsi Group is highly expected to be among the contributing mining companies in the world’s production of the emerald mineral.