The multi-million-dollar refurbishment of Hwange Colliery’s coke oven battery is a pivotal step in value addition and a clear signal of the company’s powerful rebound, Shamva Mine General Manager and Association of Mine Managers of Zimbabwe (AMMZ) committee member, Eng. Gift Mapakame has said.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking during a technical visit by AMMZ to Hwange Colliery Company Limited, Mapakame expressed his optimism after witnessing the ongoing work at the facility, which he described as a critical national asset.
“Right now, we are at coking battery number two, which is undergoing refurbishment,” Mapakame stated. “And it’s interesting to see how the company, in its efforts to resuscitate primary operations, has also invested in value addition and beneficiation of its products.”
He provided key context on the project, noting that the battery was initially commissioned in 1987 and was shut down in 2014. The recent investment of approximately US$7.5 million to bring it back into operation, he argued, addresses a key national shortfall.
“[It’s important] to appreciate the demand for some of the products that historically we had been sitting on in terms of potential,” Mapakame said. “We are told that the country is a net importer of coking coal, which is used for various applications, mainly in metallurgical processes.”
Beyond the primary product, the Shamva GM also highlighted the economic value of the by-products from the coking process, such as tar, which is used in construction and civil engineering applications.
Mapakame reserved significant praise for Hwange’s broader strategic direction under its new administration. He described the company as being on a “massive rebound,” crediting the establishment and simultaneous revitalisation of five Strategic Business Units (SBUs).
“Under the administration and new management, the company is on a massive rebound,” he affirmed. “It is almost as certain as we stand here that the company is on a rebound trajectory to become one of the major contributors in terms of our nation’s GDP, and also, in general, our fiscal.”
The Shamva Mine GM concluded by pointing to the positive implications for the mining profession itself. The anticipated growth at Hwange, he noted, presents a “huge potential” for professionals within the AMMZ, predicting that “a lot of professionals are actually going to end up here in Hwange, contributing and working for the company.”
The comments underscore a growing sentiment within Zimbabwe’s mining fraternity that Hwange Colliery’s revival is a key barometer for the health and future of the entire industry.
