The primary sector has always played a key role in the province, with its contribution growing from 17 per cent in 1996 to just over 27 per cent in 2014. This has in large part been due to the mining sector, with its contribution increasing from around 15 per cent in 1996 to around 25 per cent currently.
Approximately, 41 per cent of South Africa’s platinum group metals (PGMs), 90 per cent of red-granite resources and approximately 50 per cent of the country’s coal reserves being located in the province. In addition, it has been found that antimony, a highly strategic mineral found in large quantities in China, is another of Limpopo’s major assets 6.