Hwange Colliery Company Limited Holdings has commissioned its rehabilitated Coke Oven Battery at the Hwange Mining and Processing Company, marking the revival of coke production after operations ceased in 2014 and signalling a major shift towards value addition and beneficiation of Zimbabwe’s coal resources, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The milestone represents a significant transformation in the company’s strategy—from mining and selling raw coal to processing it into higher-value metallurgical coke that supports steel manufacturing and industrial growth.
“Today marks a defining milestone in the reconstruction and transformation journey of Hwange Colliery Company Limited Holdings with the successful commissioning of the rehabilitated Coke Oven Battery at our strategic business unit, Hwange Mining and Processing Company,” HCCL Holdings said in a statement.
“This commissioning is more than the revival of a production facility; it is a bold statement of HCCL Holdings’ commitment to beneficiating Zimbabwe’s vast coal resources, transforming them into higher-value metallurgical coke that supports steel manufacturing, drives industrial growth, and creates greater economic value.”
The project directly advances the aspirations of Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) by promoting value addition and beneficiation, strengthening domestic industrial capacity, reducing reliance on imports, enhancing export potential, and contributing to sustainable job creation.
From US$8 Million Project to Operational Facility
The coke oven battery, refurbished at a cost of approximately US$8 million, was 95 per cent complete by August 2025, with pre-heating tests beginning later that month. The battery needs to operate at temperatures of about 1,200 degrees Celsius, requiring 65 to 90 days to build up the necessary heat before coal can be introduced.
The plant is expected to produce 18,000 tonnes of metallurgical coke per month, bolstering cash flow, profits, and market competitiveness for HCCL while reinforcing Zimbabwe’s energy and steel industries.
Multi-Stream Revenue Generation
HCCL Administrator Munashe Shava previously highlighted that the project would revolutionise operations, moving the company beyond mere coal mining into high-value processing.
“What we are doing, as we already alluded to, is we are now not just mining coal and selling coal products. We are now producing coke,” Shava said in August 2025.
“We are now value-adding into coke, and not only that, we are also going to be processing by-products, tar into bitumen. We are also going to do gas recovery, and we are also going to do what we call further processing to get carbon black, which is a high-value product. So our revenue generation is now going to be multi-streamed, and we are excited about that.”
Supporting Underground Mining Expansion
The coke oven battery is directly supported by a US$60 million investment in HCCL’s underground coal mining project, a joint venture with China’s Zhongjin Investments designed to unlock the underground potential of Zimbabwe’s oldest colliery operation.
Two shafts have been drilled, each a kilometre deep at an inclination of 12 degrees. The company is already producing 600,000 tonnes per annum, with plans to increase production to 2.5 million tonnes next year and 3 million tonnes the following year.
The joint venture is expected to ultimately produce 1.8 million tonnes of coke per annum.
By-Products to Power 420MW Station
In an integrated approach, coal from the underground mine will be washed and delivered to the coke ovens. The gases produced during coking will be used to fire a power station with a combined generation capacity of 420 megawatts.
The project is expected to create numerous direct and indirect jobs, stimulate economic activity in the Hwange area, and strengthen Zimbabwe’s industrial value chain by reducing import dependency and increasing domestic beneficiation of coal resources.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga previously described HCCL as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic development, noting that the pace of recovery has been “truly remarkable.”
The commissioning marks a significant step in HCCL’s reconstruction journey, transforming the company from mining coal to creating value, from reconstruction to transformation, and from potential to production.
As Zimbabwe pushes for greater domestic beneficiation of its natural resources under NDS2, HCCL’s revived Coke Oven Battery stands as a tangible demonstration of what is possible when strategic investment meets national development aspirations.
For a company that once faced an uncertain future, the commissioning is more than a production milestone—it is a declaration that HCCL is back, and it is here to stay.
