Power challenges hampering mining operations

Zim Now Writer

Mining Zimbabwe has said the attainment of the US$12 billion mining industry by 2023 is headed for failure if power constraints continue persistent.

According to MZ, all mining companies should be given licences to produce their own power with licences extended to thermal and hydropower as well.

This comes after the Prospects Lithium of Zimbabwe (PLZ) invested US$300 million in the rapid development of a lithium project which is expected to be the biggest lithium processing plant in Africa.

PLZ Processing Manager George Togara said the company is targeting to commission the plant in February 2023 and expects to process over 4 million tonnes of ore per year.

“The processing plant is about 80 percent complete. For a project of this magnitude that has started ground clearing in June, this is a tremendous achievement.

“We are targeting to complete construction by the end of January 2023 and go straight into commissioning and ramp-up.

“Once complete, we will be pushing 4.5 million tons of ore through the plant for the next 15 years. This will see us produce approximately 450 000 tonnes per annum of petalite and spodumene concentrates for export,” Togara said.

MZ also said the power outages remain the major challenge to the mining industry with Arcadia lithium project being affected as well as contractors are prevented from working round-the-clock shifts.