- Write by:
-
Monday, April 24, 2023 - 23:58:25
-
187 Visit
-
Print
Mining News Pro - Zimbabwe needs $100 million of gold to kick-start its proposed bullion-backed digital currency, as the southern African nation makes another attempt to stabilize its floundering dollar.
The central bank will rely on gold reserves, which it has been accumulating, to support the initiative and stem the local currency’s volatility, according to Persistence Gwanyanya, a member of the central bank’s monetary policy committee.
“Any amount around or less than $100 million will be able to deal with our challenge in a big way,” Gwanyanya said in an interview by phone on Monday from the capital, Harare. “We expect the central bank to bring a respectable quantity that can stabilize the Zimbabwe dollar and boost demand.”
Zimbabwe has been struggling to stem a decline in the currency in the nation where the US dollar is the unit of choice. The central bank has been building gold reserves as well as acquiring other precious minerals since the introduction of a policy last year that compels miners to pay part of their royalties in cash and metal. It’s banking on the stash to help it with the latest plan.
State-owned media reported earlier this month that the country had 350 kilograms (12,346 ounces) of gold in reserves, citing John Mangudya, the central bank governor.
Zimbabwe targets a 14% increase in gold production to 40 tons this year. It earned $377 million from gold production in the first quarter compared with $463 million a year ago, according to data provided by Fidelity Gold Refineries, the nation’s sole refinery.
The plan for a gold-backed digital currency was approved by the monetary policy committee last month. Zimbabwe introduced gold coins last June as a store of value and to help support the local unit.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is finalizing a date to start the gold-backed digital currency, according to Innocent Matshe, the central bank’s deputy governor.
“It’s a concept which is pretty straightforward, we tokenize the gold, we have the gold,” he said by phone. “Every time we issue a coin, it is backed by real gold. We are still finalizing the details, but most countries are asking us how we came up with that plan.”
Matshe declined to comment on the value of gold which will be used to back the digital currency.
Short Link:
https://www.miningnews.ir/En/News/622855
Barrick Gold faced criticism outside its annual general meeting on Tuesday in Toronto for supporting Malian rulers with ...
Gold wavered as traders looked ahead to a week with a Federal Reserve rate decision meeting and key US jobs data.
Newmont Corp beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit on Thursday, as the world’s largest gold miner ...
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has re-appointed Winston Chitando as the southern African nation’s mines ...
China’s Zhaojin Mining Industry said on Wednesday that its A$733 million ($477.8 million) offer to buy Australia’s ...
Toronto-listed miner OceanaGold Corp said on Wednesday it will raise 6.08 billion pesos ($106 million) through an ...
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has re-appointed Winston Chitando as the southern African nation’s mines ...
Ghana Mine Workers Union is demanding the termination of the mining lease of Future Global Resources Ltd. because the ...
Gold’s record-setting rally this year has puzzled market watchers as bullion has roared higher despite headwinds that ...
No comments have been posted yet ...