Chinese company partners HCCL to open new coal min...

Chinese company partners HCCL to open new coal mine in Hwange

Zim Now Reporter

Chinese company, Zhong Jiani Investment has partnered with HCCL to establish a new US$50 million underground coal mine in Hwange.

ZJI owns 77% while HCCL owns the remaining 23% with plans to increase shareholding to 33% at a later stage.

“It is an underground mining asset, which is expected to produce around 80 000 tonnes per month, and for the first phase, this project requires close to US$50 million . . . to develop the underground mine and its infrastructure together with the washing plant,” said technical project consultant Mr Akim Mutiti.

Zimbabwe uses coal for electric power generation, tobacco curing as well as in industrial furnaces.

Dinson’s Manhize huge steel plant which is currently using road shipping has a huge appetite for coal with the company seeking partners to install a railway between Mvuma and Hwange for efficiency.

Mr Mutiti said the mine has a 25 year lifetime projection and substantial investments have already been made into exploration activities, the development of three shafts, and the construction of a washing plant.

“Construction of the three 1 100-metre tunnels for the new mine is progressing well, with 450 metres already completed and coal seams expected to be reached by November. The washing plant is nearing completion, with 90 percent of construction work completed.

“The facility houses the coking coal washing machine, which cleanses the coal before feeding it into coke oven batteries for coke production an essential energy source for firing industrial smelters. With initial production expected at around 80 000 tonnes per month, plans are in place to ramp up output, said Mr

HCCL acting managing director Mr William Gambiza said once operational, the mine’s revenue will contribute to the construction of a coke oven battery that will process the extracted coking coal into high-value coke products.

HCCL has begun the reconstruction of its existing coke oven battery to temporarily process coal from the 3-Main North Mine until a new, permanent coke oven battery is built at the new mine site.