FutureCoal expanded its Africa chapter, betting that governments rattled by supply-chain disruptions will embrace the fuel as a pillar of energy security even as decarbonisation pressures persist, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Executive Chairman Mike Teke announced the move at the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines Annual Mining Conference on Thursday, arguing that the recent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz should not obscure deeper vulnerabilities in global energy markets.
“The lesson for governments is not about a single shipping route; it is about ensuring countries have access to reliable domestic energy resources, resilient supply chains, and secure industrial capacity,” Teke said. “Energy security and affordability must come first.”
The chapter, initially launched in February 2025 with backing from producers in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, now aims to represent coal-bearing nations across the continent. Its mandate covers coordinated lobbying on technology deployment, investment flows, and industrial policy.
Africa holds some of the world’s largest untapped coal reserves, yet has struggled to attract capital amid shifting environmental standards and policy fragmentation.
“Africa cannot afford fragmented voices anymore,” Teke said. “Investment, policy, supply chains, and technology are increasingly global.”
The push comes as major economies reinforce coal’s strategic role. India is advancing a $4 billion coal-gasification programme targeting 100 million tonnes annually by 2030, while disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year drove several markets back to coal-fired generation.
In Zimbabwe, the expansion of Hwange Power Station’s Units 7 and 8 using high-efficiency, low-emission technology—alongside the rehabilitation of older units—illustrates the regional pivot toward cleaner coal applications. Zimbabwe is also exploring coal gasification and Coal-to-X pathways.
FutureCoal’s Sustainable Coal Stewardship framework underpins the expanded chapter, offering a roadmap for emissions reduction and responsible production without abandoning the resource.
“The issue is not whether coal exists, but how it is produced, used, and its negative impacts mitigated,” Teke said.
The organisation is now calling on African governments, industry players, and investors to join the chapter as the continent seeks to position itself as a stable supplier in an increasingly contested energy landscape.
