Union Jack Mine planner, Engineer Panashe Muguza is eying to grow the junior mining operation to a large scale mine in the coming years.
Rudairo Mapuranga
According to the 26-year-old, the mine used an initial CAPEX of US$0.5 million for the project to kick start, going forward 15 per cent of the profit is also reinvested into the mine for the growth and development of a measure which has seen the mine grow significantly.
“We have been ploughing back into the project for its growth and development, initially we invested US$ 6 000 000 but we use what we call a retention, 15 per cent of profits is ploughed back into the project,” said Muguza.
Although Union Jack Mine which started its operations 8 months ago has no national grid power connected at its sight, the company has been using a diesel generator to power its operations which have been going exceptionally well. Muguza said the diesel power generator was however uneconomic for the company’s upscale operations, therefore, the company was considering a solar plant for its operations.
According to Muguza, although the life of the mine is at 22 years, for now, his team is not resting to make sure that the company invests in further exploration and mine expansion.
“We are going to sink vertical shafts once we are done with terrace mining shaft mining that’s our target for the year. Currently, the mine life is about 22 years and we need to extend it. There is huge growth potential,” Muguza said.
The mine is currently producing an average of 13,2 kgs per month with ore bodies proving that it can improve its monthly production. Muguza said the mine in March produced over 15 kgs of gold.
“We are producing an average of 13.2 per month, in March we did 15.3 Kgs,” he said.
He said the mine which is working with one contractor, Bubugao Mining Company, is at the moment doing terrace mining with a plan of sinking shafts before year-end.
In terms of processing or extraction, the Mine is using heap leaching as it is a better alternative to conventional processing. Heap leaching involves stacking ore into a heap on an impermeable pad, irrigating the ore for an extended period of time with a chemical solution to dissolve the sought-after metals, and collecting the leachate as it percolates from the base of the heap.
According to Muguza on its heap leaching, they irrigate the sodium cyanide-treated metal-bearing ore for 8 hours. In heap leaching operating costs are less sensitive to the size of the operation than capital costs.
More and more young Zimbabweans are taking up leading positions in Mines and excelling. Muguza is one of the many that the country can bank on in future and is a significant player in the country’s 12 billion mining industry vision.
Gold mining in Zimbabwe is a major mainstay for millions in the Southern African country.
There are over 4 000 recorded gold deposits in Zimbabwe of which nearly all of them are located on ancient workings. The country remains under-explored to discover deposits away from these ancient workings. More than 90% of gold deposits in Zimbabwe are associated with greenstone belts which are some of the richest in the world. Other gold deposits occur in the Limpopo Mobile Belt in the south of the country and in the Proterozoic Piriwiri rocks in the North-Western part of Zimbabwe.
It mines 3,000 tonnes of ore and removes 8,000 banks of overburden on an average every day. The mine poured its first gold in April 1988. Freda is owned by Kuvimba mining house which owns a soon to be biggest gold producer Shamva gold mine.
One of Zimbabwe’s most successful mine, owned by New York Stock Exchange-listed Caledonia Mining Corporation, run by Steve Curtis the mine is currently carrying out an ambitious expansion drive aimed at producing 80 000 ounces of gold by 2021.
RioZim
Rio Zimbabwe, a diversified miner owns two gold mines which are Renco Mine and Cam and Motor Mine in Kadoma and many more scattered across the country.
Metallon Corporation
Metallon Corporation in 2015, gold production was 97,000 ounces and the target was 120,000 ounces in 2016. Across the group, Metallon has a significant resource base with a JORC-compliant 8.3 million ounce resource.
Sabi gold Mine
The mine employs about 450 employees and is currently serviced by one rectangular double compartment shaft reaching down to 15 metres below 12 level elevation. The Principal mining method is underhand stopping. The mine has the capacity to treat 450 tonnes of ore per day.
Falcon Gold (Falgold)
The company formerly owned Dalny mine in Chakari, Venice Mine in Kadoma and Golden Quarry mine in Shurugwi. Founded in 1991, Falcon Gold Zimbabwe is a subsidiary of the New Dawn Mining Group. New Dawn Mining Corp is involved in the exploration, development, extraction, processing and reclamation of precious metal deposits in Zimbabwe.
It primarily explores for gold, base metals and precious metals. Falcon Gold Zimbabwe Limited also has an operational processing plant and Ancillary infrastructure which supports a central processing plant that treats ore from Pickstone.
Pickstone Peerless
The 584ha Pickstone-Peerless Gold Mine is located 100km southwest of Harare and has historically produced over 400,000oz gold. Pickstone-Peerless has a current JORC Resource of 62 million tonnes grading 1.8 g/t, containing 3.56 million ounces of gold. Included in this Resource is an open-pittable Ore Reserve of 16.6Mt grading at 1.9 g/t for 1.02 million ounces of gold.
Duration Gold Mine
Duration Gold Limited offers gold exploration and production services. The company owns 5 core assets with historic production of 4.6 million oz. It also sells gold at international spot prices. The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Duration Gold Limited operates as a subsidiary of Clarity Enterprises Limited.
One of its flagship gold mines is Vumbachikwe, which is one of Zimbabwe’s oldest gold mines.
Bilboes Holdings
Bilboes Holdings (Private) Limited owns and operates gold mines in Zimbabwe. It engages in mining, exploring, and producing gold. The company was founded in 1989 and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Bilboes own and operates four gold mines namely Isabella, Bubi, When and McCay’s ‘existing mines’ all in the Bubi Greenstone Belt of Zimbabwe. The mines were acquired from Anglo American Corporation Zimbabwe Limited (AMZIM) in 2003 together with most of AMZIM’s gold mineral rights in Zimbabwe.
Eureka Gold Mine
Eureka Gold Mine is located about 150km north of Harare.
Eureka is a modern gold mine designed to produce up to 70,000oz of gold per annum from an open pit operation. Operations were suspended in 2000 due to high costs and low gold prices. The mine is currently on care and maintenance and the Company is focused on recommencing production in 2021.
Small-scale gold mining
A Small-scale mining operation near Harare
Artisanal and Small-scale miners currently operating in Zimbabwe are estimated to range from 500 000 to 1 500 000 people.
This group is currently producing over 60% of gold submitted to the country’s sole buyer Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR).
The major challenges faced by the ASM sector are a lack of financial resources, equipment, expertise, and geological information. Despite these challenges, ASM operations remain crucial as production details recorded at Fidelity Printers and Refiners indicate that the sector has produced more than 60 tonnes (60%) of gold for the period 2017-2020.
Gold buying in Zimbabwe
Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) Head Office in Msasa, Harare
Fidelity Printers and Refiners (Pvt) Ltd (FPR) is licensed to buy gold from large scale producers, small scale producers and holders of gold buying permits.
With FPR miners have an option to select the assay method for a particular deposit or the specific gravity method. If the customer opts for the fire assay method, payment will be made after the analysis which is carried out at the Head Office in Harare. Samples obtained after melting are accurately analysed using the internationally recognised fire assay technique. Results obtained are in the region of 1 part per thousand tolerances. However, for the specific gravity method, payment is actioned on the spot. The specific gravity method is used particularly in areas outside Harare.
FPR has decentralised its buying activities from Harare to cover the entire country, thereby significantly reducing the security risks associated with transporting gold for the small scale sector. The customer has an option to select the assay method for a particular deposit or the specific gravity method. Gold delivered to the centres is paid for on the spot after carrying out a specific gravity determination of the gold content. However, if the miner opts for the fire assay method, payment will then be made after the analysis which is carried out at the Head Office in Harare.
FPR is currently in the unbundling phase whereby new shareholders will be announced.
Fidelity Gold buying centres
FPR has decentralised its buying activities from Harare to cover all gold producing regions within the country, thereby significantly reducing the security risks associated with transporting gold over long distances. The company has also appointed Gold Buying agents to conveniently mop gold produced in outlying areas and also from artisanal miners.
The current gold buying centres are:
BULAWAYO
Address: ZB Bank Fife Street Branch Corner 10th Ave / Fife St
Phone: +263 292 880175/80, +263 292 68766
Email: [email protected]
GWANDA
Address: ZB Bank Shop No 8 NSSA Complex
Phone: +263 284 20957
Email: [email protected]
KADOMA
Address: ZB Bank No 42 Robert Mugabe Street
Phone: +263 68 212004
Email: [email protected]
MUTARE
Address: ZB Bank 88 Herbert Chitepo Street
Phone: +263 20 2061006
Email: [email protected]
BINDURA
Address: ZB Bank No 28 Robert Mugabe Way
Phone: +263 66 2106854
Email: [email protected]
GWERU
Address: ZB Bank No 69 Robert Mugabe Way
Phone: +263 54 2220328
Email: [email protected]
KWEKWE
Address: ZB Bank No 90 Robert Mugabe Way
Phone: +263 55 2526084
Email: [email protected]
ZVISHAVANE
Address: ZB Bank No 86 Robert Mugabe Way
Phone: +263 39 2353539
Email: [email protected]
CHINHOYI
Address: ZB Bank No 47 Magamba Way
Phone: +263 67 2121010
Email: [email protected]
Address: ZB Bank No 39 Robert Mugabe Way
Phone: +263 39 22265288
Email: [email protected]
Registering for gold mining claims in Zimbabwe
A small-scale Gold mine pit
Gold mining is the most popular type of mining conducted in Zimbabwe. It has a flourishing market ready to pay the greenback on demand. Popular gold mining towns include Kadoma, Bindura, Shurugwi, Gwanda, Chegutu, Kwekwe, Zvishavane, Chinhoyi, Shamva and many other towns. Gold is found in every district in Zimbabwe!
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development (MMMD)is tasked to promote sustainable exploration, mining, processing marketing and management of mineral resources for the benefit of all Zimbabweans. Its key responsibility is to be responsible for the administration of the Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05) of Zimbabwe.
Mining investment in Zimbabwe
1.1 Foreign Investors are allowed to own 100% shareholding for mining operations in all minerals except for platinum and diamonds which the foreign investor is expected to jointly own with Government on a 51%/49% basis.
1.2 Before starting operations the newly registered company should possess a Zimbabwe Investment Authority (Z.I.A) certificate and can then apply for a prospecting license from any Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Offices.
1.3 Any person who is a permanent resident of Zimbabwe and above the age of 18 may take out a prospecting license at any Ministry of Mines and Mining Development offices.
1.4 The Provincial Mining Director acting on behalf of the Permanent Secretary may refuse to issue a prospecting license but shall forthwith be required to report each refusal to the Secretary.
1.5 Each Prospecting License is valid for two years.
1.6 A holder of a Prospecting License automatically acquires the rights of prospecting and pegging mining claims anywhere in Zimbabwe.
1.1 When a Prospecting Licence holder has identified a mineral deposit that he/she is interested in, he/she appoints an agent or an Approved Prospector to peg on his behalf.
1.2 The agent is required to physically peg the area by marking the deposit with a Discovery Peg. He/She should also post Prospecting, Discovery and Registration Notices on the ground. The notices must be posted in a conspicuous manner to alert other prospectors.
1.3 Before posting these notices the agent is required to inform/or seek consent from the landowner of his intention to prospect.
NB: Consent is only sought from the landowner if prospecting on a farm less than 100 hectares, otherwise the prospector is only required to inform the farm/landowner in writing either by registered mail or deliver by hand.
1.4 All areas classified as not open to prospecting and pegging or reserved against prospecting and pegging cannot be pegged, e.g. cultivated lands, dip tanks, Dams, etc.
1.5 Each Prospecting License can peg up to a maximum of 10 claims at 1 Ha each.
1.6 An application for registration must be submitted to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development offices. The application must have copies of the following attachments:
(a) Prospecting license(s).
(b) Prospecting Notice.
(c ) Discovery Notice (Base Minerals).
(d) Notification of intention to prospect to the landowner.
(e) A map in triplicate to the scale of 1:25000.
1.7 If the Provincial Mining Director is satisfied that all pegging procedures have been followed he shall issue a certificate of registration upon payment of the gazette fee. This allows the holder to start mining operations subject to meeting other obligations like Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).
1.8 Within three months from the date of registration the miner is required to erect permanent beacons on the ground.
1.9 All precious mineral claims are supposed to be continuously worked on in order to obtain renewal of title. Claims have a 12-month tenure after which they shall expire or be renewed.
1.10 Gold and other precious metal claims are inspected by production and capital expenditure.
1.11 Base metal claims can be protected by payment.
1.12 If a mining claim is transferred or sold a Certificate of Registration After Transfer shall be issued by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
1.13 Failure to renew title will result in the forfeiture of a mining claim. Furthermore, loss of title can be through cancellation or abandonment.
MINING companies should follow laid down safety procedures during their operations to avoid accidents that lead to loss of lives.
The accident at Bucks Mine in Colleen Bawn, Matabeleland South on Saturday where seven miners lost their lives could have been avoided if proper safety protocols were followed.
It is said that the accident happened after hoisting ropes bringing the seven miners up a shaft snapped and plunged down 240 metres.
On Sunday, an official from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, who preferred anonymity, hinted that the mishap could have been as a result of negligence.
“This incident can be linked to negligence because first of all seven men were not supposed to be in that cage at once because it has a low carrying capacity.
“The rope was also weak to carry the cage. The guys were riding on a one-tonne size cocopan, ingorovane, up a vertical shaft slung on a wire rope which snapped towards the surface and they were plunged with the cocopan towards the shaft bottom. Shaft has water and mud.”
Rescuers pull up the first retrieved body at Bucks Mine in Colleen Bawn Speaking at the scene of the accident on Tuesday as the rescue crew was retrieving the bodies, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura urged miners to adhere to safety standards in order to avoid similar accidents in future.
“It’s sad that we lost seven miners of this operation but we want to thank everyone who is here and has been making frantic efforts to rescue those who drowned underground. We’ve so far managed to retrieve five bodies; the sixth body is still underground but it will be out in the next hour.
“The seventh body is still trapped underground under a cocopan which we’re trying to move so that we can have space to get the body out. We’re confident that we’ll be able to retrieve all the seven bodies,” said Deputy Minister Kambamura.
He extended his condolences to the families and co-workers of the deceased.
“We’re so saddened as Government and want to urge the communities around to adhere to all safety standards to make sure that such accidents don’t happen in future. Currently, the department of the chief Government mining engineer is going around doing safety awareness campaigns together with the Ministry of Environment to make sure that miners adhere to safety standards and a safe working environment,” said Deputy Minister Kambamura.
Mining forms a key pillar of the economy hence it is important to always conduct operations in line with prescribed safety protocols to boost productivity while at the same time providing a safe working environment.
We commiserate with the affected families and may the souls of the seven departed miners rest in peace.
AFTER a two-year absence, the country’s leading Mining, Engineering and Transport exhibition bounces back in July in Bulawayo.
Commonly known as Mine Entra, the specialised exhibition would be held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds between July 20 and 22.
Exhibition booking space is on-going.
Posting in its official Twitter account, ZITF Company said “After a 2-year hiatus, we are pleased to announce that Mine Entra is back. Book your stand now and be part of the premier gathering of mining, engineering, transport and construction industry
Officials said the cancellation was necessitated by conflicting industry engagements which
forestalled preparations.
In 2020, the exhibition was held virtually on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The premier gathering of mining, engineering, transport and construction industry stakeholders provides a platform to engage in productive discussions for the creation of an enabling environment for the growth and development of the mining industry.
It also incorporates a display of mining equipment, chemicals and protective clothes as well as insurance and security services which are needed by miners.
Throughout its existence, Mine Entra has successfully introduced new suppliers, ideas, technologies, services and products to an ever-increasing number of Zimbabwean mining operators.
The mining industry is one of Zimbabwe’s economic mainstays with the sector presently contributing about 70 percent of the country’s foreign currency earnings.
The Second Republic has come up with a US$12 billion mining industry roadmap by 2023 with the gold sector expected to generate US$4 billion, platinum US$3 billion and chrome, iron, steel, diamond and coal contributing US$1 billion.
Lithium is expected to contribute US$500 million while other minerals will contribute US$1,5 billion.
HWANGE Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) says it has entered into an capital financing deal from which it will receive equipment valued at US$15 million in the next two years.
However, the coal mining company did not disclose the identity of the partner in the deal.
Hwange in a statement accompanying its financial results HCCL said, “The company has entered into an equipment mobilisation agreement for the Underground Mine, that will result in the company getting new underground mining equipment valued in excess of US$15 million in the next two years.”
The recapitalisation programme will increase production to 50 000 tonnes per month in the second-half of 2022, 100 000 tonnes per month in the first-half of 2023 and a further 150 000 tonnes per month in the last quarter of year 2023.
Such increase in production would be welcome development to the company, which currently produces a total of 15 000 tonnes per month.
The miner also is investing in coking coal as it looks to increase the quantity and quality of its coking coal in order to export.
“In addition, open cast operations at the JKL pit will continue to be capacitated in order to increase high value coking coal in the product mix, the target being to increase production to 90 000 tonnes per month by end of 2022,” Hwange said.
The company said it had also engaged a new mining contractor to increase high value coking coal with a target production of 20 000 tonnes per month.
“The main thrust of Hwange in 2022 is to ensure that we fully capacitate our opencast and underground mine by addressing all bottlenecks currently affecting the mining process.”
The equipment mobilisation contract includes a washing plant that will be located near the mining areas, with the equipment to be commissioned during the second quarter of 2022.
The company believes this will reduce hauling and processing costs.
“The organisation will also go on a vigorous proactive maintenance drive to continue to stabilise the current washing capacity at both the HMS (heavy media separation) plant and the Jig and floatation plant,” the statement read.
The company has engaged a contractor to resuscitate beehive coke ovens to produce high value foundry coke with high demand in the export market. Production is targeted to commence during the first quarter of 2022, and will generate about US$3,4 million in 2022.
The company, which is still under administration had legacy debts of $904 million. The company posted a net profit of $28,6 million in the financial year 2021.
“Gross profit increased by 26 percent from $1,6 billion prior year to $2,1 billion in inflation adjusted terms this year. The company posted a net profit of $28,6 million during the year from $2,7 billion and the decrease was mostly attributed to exchange rate impact on legacy debts,” the administrator said.
In the period under review, revenue was up 31 percent to $9,4 billion from $7,2 billion in 2020, with 3 percent coming from sales in the southern Africa region.
Hwange attributed the rise in revenue to a combination of an increase in sales of high value coking coal and regular product price adjustments done during the year in line with market value.
It is a haven for Mining enthusiasts and is home to almost every mineral any Mining die-hards can ever dream of. From Gold to Platinum, Lithium, you name it we have it.
Many across the globe have unanswered questions on how they can have a piece of the Zimbabwean cake and Mining Zimbabwe took the opportunity to interview Zimbabwe’s Mines and Mining Development Minister Hon Winston Chitando to shed light on investing in Zimbabwe Mining.
KS May you give a brief description of the Mineral Resources in Zimbabwe?
• Zimbabwe has excellent geology, comparable to that of leading mining economies and has
unique and highly prospective geological environments:
• Expansive craton with high diamond prospectively;
• Widespread greenstone belts rich in precious metals, precious stones, base metals and
industrial minerals;
• The Great Dyke;
• Precambrian sedimentary basins rich in placer gold and diamond deposits
• Karoo basins rich in coal, coal bed methane gas (CBM), natural gas and uranium.
• Metamorphic belts rich in pegmatite minerals such as lithium, tantalite, rare earth elements
etc.
• Zimbabwe is host to about 60 minerals whose commercial profitability has been proven at
one point or another. The major minerals found in Zimbabwe include Gold, Platinum Group
Metals (PGMs), Diamonds, Chrome, Ferrochrome, Nickel, Copper, Iron, Lithium, Coal, Coal
Bed Methane (CBM) gas etc. Zimbabwe also has huge potential for Rare Earth Elements
(REE) as well as oil and gas.
Why should investors consider Zimbabwe and why?
Zimbabwe’s mining sector presents many competitive opportunities to different needs of diverse
investors as a result of:
• The abundance of mineral resources;
• Availability of a highly skilled labour force that is willing to work;
• Attractive Investment Incentives;
• Functional systems:
i. Effective and efficient minerals marketing system;
ii. Investor-friendly Mines and Minerals Act – currently being amended to
iii. make it more competitive;
iv. Responsive to relevant Government Ministries and institutions;
v. Progressive policies e.g. Ease of Doing Business and Rapid Results
vi. Initiative (RRI);
vii. Availability of good basic infrastructure – power, water, rail and road network.
Legislators have commended the country’s diamond producers for their commitment to Kimberly Process compliance requirements.
Prince Sunduzani
The Kimberly Process Review team is currently in the country, conducting an assessment of Zimbabwe’s compliance with set standards of the organisation.
The Edmond Mkaratigwa led, Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, has said this was demonstrated by the security systems at the mines and sorting houses and steps taken by the companies to address challenges faced by their host communities.
The committee said the companies, Anjin Investments, Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (Pvt) Ltd ( ZCDC ) and Murowa Diamond’s willingness to address the problems faced by communities they operate in the long and short term was commendable.
The Portfolio Committee in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, diamond producers, the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and civil society organizations (CSOs) embarked on a self-assessment of the diamond sector to gauge if the country was compliant with the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
“The diamond producers in the country Anjin, ZCDC and Murowa Diamonds showed commitment towards compliance with the requirements of the KPCS as demonstrated by the security systems at the mines and sorting houses. However, it is important for the companies to ensure availability of documentation on request during such visits,” said the committee in the diamond sector self-assessment report.
“Diamond producers, that include Anjin, ZCDC and Murowa Diamonds expressed their willingness to address challenges raised by local communities in the short-term whilst others would be addressed in the long term. There were too many community-based organizations in Marange and it was clear that they were not always speaking with one voice, hence making it difficult for mining companies to address all the challenges facing the communities.”
The committee also singled out the approach by ZCDC to initiate a self-assessment on its human rights impact on communities through the Initiative on Responsible Mineral Assurance (IRMA), which it viewed as a positive step towards promoting responsible sourcing.
It also noted that most of the government agencies that were visited including customs officials were generally conversant with the KPCS requirements, saying regular training was necessary, particularly for new recruits.
The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme is the core of the Kimberly Process, which is a multi-lateral trade regime established in 2003 by the United Nations General Council to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds with member states implementing control of shipments of rough diamonds and certifying diamonds as conflict-free.
The country’s biggest organisation representing Large Scale mining companies, the Chamber of Mines has hailed the introduction of the willing buyer willing seller interbank foreign exchange platform optimistic that it will match demand and supply based on economic fundamentals.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Through a report submitted to the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development yesterday the Chamber of Mines said the Auction forex exchange System which was introduced in 2020 with the main objective to provide an efficient market for allocating foreign exchange has created a vicious cycle between inflation and exchange rate volatility.
“There was a general belief that some scrupulous business entities and speculators took advantage of the arbitrage opportunities that existed between the auction market and the parallel market to make quick gains. They would buy forex at lower prices on the auction market and sell it at parallel market exchange rates. Those who may have used the forex for productive purposes would price their final goods and services using parallel rates.”
“With the increased money supply or cheap loans accessed through banks the demand for forex on the parallel market disproportionately increased and widened the gap between the auction and parallel exchange rate. The combination of market indiscipline and arbitrage opportunities created a vicious cycle between inflation and exchange rate volatility. The export sector was adversely affected as exporters who liquidate their surrender portion at official rate would source local inputs at parallel market rate,” The Chamber said.
The chamber said that the introduction of a willing-buyer willing-seller foreign exchange will address some of the challenges in the foreign exchange market through fostering discipline and reducing access to arbitrage opportunities.
“It is our hope that over time the auction-rate will converge with the interbank rate as the proceeds from exporters which constitute the feedstock of the auction market will now be liquidated at the willing buyer willing seller exchange rate,” the chamber said in part.
In the wake of the mine tragedy that claimed seven lives at Bucks Mine in Colleen bawn, the government is working on capacitating emergency rescue teams to equip miners in all districts to swiftly deal with mine accidents to avert disasters.
Prince Sunduzani
This week, seven miners died when they plunged down a 200-meter shaft after a rope from a winch snapped.
The rescue mission took about three nights, pumping water out of the 240-metre-deep shaft.
Teams from Vumbachikwe Mine and the Ministry of Mines collaborated in the effort.
In an interview with Mining Zimbabwe, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Ministry, Dr Polite Kambamura, said the government, in collaboration with the Chamber of Mines, will train and capacitate Emergency Rescue Teams (Proto teams) consisting of small scale miners and teams from large scale operations in every mining district.
He said, in addition to this, they will be conducting awareness campaigns and training on safety to conscientize miners on mine safety measures.
This will assist with preparedness in the event of an accident.
“The Ministry of Mines is conducting safety awareness campaigns and training workshops in all mining districts. We formed joint Ministry of Mines and EMA Inspectorate teams to go around all mining areas checking on compliance,” said Kambamura.
“Government together with Chamber of Mines, will train and capacitate Emergency Rescue Teams (Proto teams) consisting of small scale miners and teams from large scale operations in every mining district”
He called on small scale miners to adhere to mining safety standards enshrined in the Mines and Minerals act.
“Government appreciates the role played by small scale miners, and as such we are concerned about numerous mining accidents happening in the sector. We urge small scale miners to adhere to mining safety standards as set out in the Mines and Minerals Act. Every mining operation must be registered, and have an appointed qualified and competent mine manager who among other duties, administers this Act on the day to day running of the mine,” he said.
Speaking to the media on Sunday at the site of the tragedy, Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Matabeleland South chapter chairman Mr Philemon Mokuele said his association was concerned by the lack of safety knowledge among small scale miners.
As such, he said, ZMF will conduct safety training to reduce the number of mine accidents.
“We saw this accident as a challenge to us because we now understand that most small-scale miners lack knowledge of health and safety which is very important in our mining operations. We’ll be training our miners so that they understand the importance of safety in the mines. Most miners were not taking issues of health and safety seriously such that when we called for training, most miners were not coming. However, this training will be useful in reducing accidents in our mines,” said Mr Mokuele.
HWANGE Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) projects to scale up high-value coal production from the current 15 000 tonnes per month to 150 000 tonnes per month in the last quarter of the year 2023 as part of measures to unearth the company’s potential.
To increase production, the coal miner says it has entered into an equipment mobilisation agreement for the Underground Mine, that will result in the company getting new underground mining equipment valued at more than US$15 million in the next two years.
“This arrangement will enable us to increase production to 50 000 tonnes per month in the second-half of 2022, then 100 000 tonnes per month first-half of 2023 and 150 000 tonnes per month in the last quarter of the year 2023 compared to the current production of 15 000 tonnes per month,” financial results for the year ended 31 December show.
“In addition, Opencast operations at the JKL pit will continue to be capacitated in order to increase high-value coking coal in the product mix, the target being to increase production to 90 000 tonnes per month by end of 2022.”
The firm added that it has also engaged a new mining contractor to increase high-value coking coal with a target production of 20 000 tonnes per month.
As part of strategies to boost production at Chaba Mine, the mine said it is in an advanced stage to engage a new mining contractor to increase thermal and industrial coal.
“This will result in increased monthly production by 40 000 towards the end of 2022. This will enable the company to meet its demand of dry products.”
The production is targeted to commence during the first quarter of this year and will generate about US$3,4 million in 2022.
Colliery noted that in the period under review, production increased by 49,5 percent and sales volumes also increased by 39 percent compared to the prior year.
“Going forward, the company is targeting to increase coking coal production and sales, which will in turn increase capacity to discharge obligations to creditors as well as create a positive balance sheet in the medium term.
During the period under review, the focus was on increasing production and sales of highvalue coking coal. Raw coking coal and clean coking coal sales increased by 226 percent from 63 294 tonnes in 2020 to 206 564 tonnes in 2021.
The coking coal sales volumes were however, limited by washing capacity constraints and the company redressed it by recommissioning a washing plant during the period under review, it noted.
The coking coal. Image taken from NS Energy
For Opencast operations, 1 804 663 tonnes were mined, a 53 percent increase in production from the previous year.
A total of 733,102 tonnes of coal was delivered to Hwange Power Station during the year, which was an increase of 11 percent from the previous year. Deliveries into the power station were however, negatively affected by plant challenges in the power station and limited stockholding space, it said.
Meanwhile, revenue improved by 31 percent from $7,2 billion in 2020 to $9,4 billion in 2021 on an inflation-adjusted basis.
The firm said this was largely driven by a combination of an increase in sales of high value coking coal and regular product price adjustments done during the year in line with market value.
Gross profit increased by 26 percent from $1,6 billion prior year to $2,1 billion in inflationadjusted terms this year.
Legacy debts contributed $904 million of unrealised losses on inflation-adjusted terms.
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The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
