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Coal Giant targets to produce 200 000 tonnes a month

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Coal Giant targets to produce 200 000 tonnes a month

Zimbabwe’s biggest coal producer, Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) is targeting to produce not less than 200 000 tonnes of coal per month, the company’s Managing Director Dr Charles Zinyemba has said.

Rudairo Mapuranga

Through the company’s Condensed Interim Financial Results For the half-year ended 30 June 2021 Dr Zinyemba said Hwange Colliery performance continues to improve due to established funding support, as a result, the firm is expecting operations to stabilize with immediate consistent production of 200 000 tonnes a month.

“A lot of work has gone into stabilisation of the business. With the Company being under reconstruction, it has been challenging to obtain both working capital and long-term financing for the business. It is however pleasing to note that as the Company’s performance continues to improve, funding support in the form of lines of credit to the business from local banks and regional financiers has likewise been established. As a result, the operations are expected to stabilise within the next 6 to 12 months. The immediate target is to consistently produce at least 200 000 tonnes a month.” Dr Zinyemba said.

During the period under review, the company’s revenue increased by 38 per cent from ZWL 2.19 billion in 2020 to ZWL 3.03 billion in 2021 on an inflation-adjusted basis. This was largely due to a combination of an increase in high-value coking coal sales and regular product price adjustments in line with market value.

The Company’s gross profit increased by 139 per cent to ZWL 851.60 million in historical terms compared to the same period last year. Net loss for the period under review decreased from ZWL 991.75 million to ZWL 538.76 million in historical terms.

The net loss is a result of ZWL 258.05 million exchange loss on foreign legacy debts and deferred tax of ZWL 441.15 million during the period under review.

The Company’s production increased by 51 per cent during the period under review, with the main challenges having been foreign currency to import spares and consumables. The sales volumes however increased by only 23.7 per cent compared to 2020 mainly as a result of the influence of Covid-19 on the market and logistics, as well as the reduced thermal coal offtake. Going forward, the Company has targeted 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.

Hwange Colliery experienced a fatality-free shift record as at 30 June 2021. A successful Covid-19 awareness and vaccination program, for both workers and the greater Hwange Community, was run by the Company.

RioZim Diamonds Production Down 4%

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RioZim Diamonds Production Down 4%

RZM Murowa, a subsidiary of RioZim has recorded a 4% drop in output in the half-year ended June 30, 2021, due to technicalities associated with the migration of mining activities.

Vongai Mbara

The mining group produced 564 kg of gold for six months, which was a 4% decline from the same period prior year’s production of 586 kg.

The depressed production was mainly attributable to the rain-induced power outages and plant breakdowns experienced in the first quarter of 2021 which stifled plant throughput across the Group’s mines.

Presenting the group’s half-year results, RioZim chairperson Saleem Beebeejaun said the lowered production also prompted the widening of losses.

“The group’s associate produced 240 000 carats for the six-month period, representing a 4% decline from the comparative period’s 250 000 carats,” he said.

“The low production volumes are a result of processing low-grade ore from the K2 pit throughout the period after migration of mining.”

Although no figures were provided, RZM Murowa revealed they sold more diamonds during the period despite the depressed output. Their share of profit from the associate rose to $252,9 million from the prior period’s share of loss of $5,3 million.

It added that its Crown Jewel project which seeks to boost the plant processing capacity to sustain its operations pit is progressing well despite challenges and delays being experienced as a result of the COVID-19.

Gold prices have remained relatively consistent with the same period prior year prices and averaged US$1 777/oz, a 4% increase against US$1 713/oz.

“Revenue generated during the period was $2,6 billion in comparison to $616,4 million in the same period the prior year. The marked increase in revenue was a direct result of the depreciation of the local currency against the United States dollar.

“Resultantly, the lower production achieved led to a loss of $1,5 billion compared to the same period prior year’s loss of $77,4 million,” Beebeejaun said.

He added that going forward, the company will be focusing on the completion and commissioning of its BIOX Plant Project before the close of the financial year as the project remains a key priority for the group.

Terex Trucks changes name to “Rokbak” in Volvo Brand Transition

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Terex Trucks changes name to “Rokbak” in Volvo Brand Transition

Terex Trucks is now Rokbak, in a move that removes the Terex name from the articulated truck line Volvo Group purchased in 2014.

Marcia Doyle

“Now is the right time for us to carve a brand new name for our business,” says Paul Douglas, Rokbak managing director.

Under the Rokbak brand, Volvo Group subsidiary Volvo Construction Equipment is offering two models, the 30.9-ton RA30 and the 41.9-ton RA40. Coming in new colors and livery, Volvo says, the two units offer better fuel economy, lower emissions, improved safety and greater durability than the previous Terex Truck models, TA300 and TA400.

Improvements include Tier 4 engines, a new transmission on the RA30, the introduction of Haul Track telematics and an emphasis on operator comfort and safety. The RA30’s ZF transmission has a 4,000-hour oil change, and the RA40’s Allison transmission comes with a 6,000-hour oil change. In addition, the RA40’s transmission has adaptive shifting and drop-box two-speed ratios, helping the truck maintain optimum momentum, Volvo says.

The Haul Track telematics offers information such as machine location, hours, engine speed and idle time, machine operating parameters, fuel consumption and system fault code alerts.

Wide pivoting steps and service platforms provide safe and easy access to the cab.

“We already have a very healthy order book for the new brand, and we want to further expand our reputation, dealer network and market share,” Douglas says. “We’re still the same skilled, experienced, and passionate team, committed to making rock-solid haulers every day. But we also have a clear vision for where we want to go and who we want to be.”

Rokbak has quite a legacy. Volvo traces the machine’s lineage back to 1934 when Euclid Road Machinery built what Volvo calls the world’s first off-road truck, the Model 1Z. The trucks have been made in Motherwell, Scotland since 1950. General Motors bought Euclid in 1953 and renamed its earthmoving division “Terex,” from the Latin “terra” (earth) and “rex” (king). Terex became independent of General Motors in 1987, was bought by North West Engineering in 1992, forming Terex Corporation. Volvo Group bought the off-road truck line from Terex in 2014 and marketed it until now as Terex Trucks.

“It’s important for us to preserve the heritage, expertise and relationships that have been built up over the years,” says Melker Jernberg, president, Volvo CE and executive vice president, Volvo Group. “We didn’t want to start changing everything about what made Terex Trucks so successful in the first place. It was crucial to allow the company to run with the same autonomy that it always has. As Terex Trucks rebrands to Rokbak, we see continuation of the company’s strong tradition, shaking up the industry and doing things in their own way.”

Prospect identifies a number of exploration targets

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Prospect identifies a number of exploration targets

Prospect Resources has discovered a number of exploration options that might significantly expand the Arcadia Resource.

Shantel Chisango

Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, Prospect Resources Managing Director Mr Sam Hosack stated that identifying these exploratory targets puts Prospect on the right track to keep funding exploration projects going.

“We are going to fund further exploration so we can realise some value from our skills and knowledge,” said Hosack.

Furthermore, Hosack mentioned that the initiative of sponsoring exploratory projects is only for a short term period.

“This is a plan for the short term future,” said Hosack.

Speaking on the Arcadia project, mining will be carried out by hydraulic, track-mounted backhoe excavators, with ore and waste hauled by off-road dump trucks, according to the business plans.

“It is planned that the company mining will be performed by hydraulic, track-mounted backhoe excavators with ore and waste hauled using off-road dump trucks.”

The company went on to say that open-pit mining method is the most convenient and economic extraction, due to the shallowness of the ore body.

Currently, Prospect’s Arcadia project is deemed as Africa’s most advanced lithium development making it the only independent, shovel-ready project globally without offtake locked up as well as one of the world’s premier hard rock lithium assets.

About Prospect Resources

Prospect Resources Limited (ASX: PSC, FRA:5E8) is a battery minerals company with a focus on lithium in and around Zimbabwe, with the flagship project being the 87% owned Arcadia Lithium project, located on the outskirts of Harare in Zimbabwe. Its Arcadia Lithium Project represents a globally significant hard rock lithium resource. The project is being rapidly developed by Prospect’s experienced team, with the focus on near term production of petalite and spodumene concentrates.

Gvt should decriminalize gemstone possession, Moyo

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Gvt should decriminalize gemstone possession, Moyo

In order to benefit significantly from the country’s semi-precious stones and to witness the growth of the industry, the government of Zimbabwe should decriminalize possession of the stones, Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Secretary for Gemstones and semi-precious stones Mr Privelage Moyo has said.

Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at a workshop organized by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) in Bulawayo,  Moyo said although there is no law that directly speaks for the semi-precious stone industry, there is a need for the government to look into the sector and come up with a law that directly regulates the semi-precious stone industry.

Cutters and traders are reportedly experiencing harassment and unlawful arrests by the police for the possession of semi-precious stones without a licence yet there is no law in the country that specifically address the coloured gemstone industry.

Moyo said it was of importance for the government to come up with a semi-precious stone act to decriminalise the possession of coloured gemstones at the same time curbing smuggling of the stones.

“Government should decriminalize the trading of gemstones so that precious stones are traded through the formal market. This, in turn, will curb the smuggling and leakages of gemstones to other countries,” Moyo said.

The ZELA organized workshop agreed that for the coloured gemstones sector to grow and develop, there is a need for the country to come up with a gemstone policy to guide the producers and investors into the gemstone industry.

Women miners should form syndicates as this would make it easier for them to access information, funding and markets for gemstone production.

The Gemology Centre should be established in Mashonaland West and not in Mutare given that most of the gemstones are produced in Mashonaland West Province.

There is a need to support women to actively participate in the cutting and polishing of gemstones mined in Zimbabwe. This will create more jobs and wealth for the country.

Government departments CSOs need to work together to address the challenges faced by women miners in the gemstone sector.

Privelage Moyo is credited for guiding and assisting miners in identifying semi-precious stones.

Women turn-to artisanal mining to fund agriculture

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Women turn-to artisanal mining to fund agriculture

In an effort to fight against poverty induced by the lockdown pandemic and economic woes the country is experiencing women in the villages of Kadoma have rushed into artisanal mining to fund their farming businesses.

Anerudo Mapuranga

Mining is considered as key to national development and economic resuscitation with the government of the view that mining has all it takes to fund agriculture that the country becomes the breadbasket of Africa again.

The women mining using hard manual labour equipment said they have sought the refuge of the hard and risk artisanal mining because they have no other option to raise capital for Agriculture because farming has not been profitable to fund itself of late.

“We have decided to fund our farming businesses through mining, at least with mining we will not be waiting for aid and government inputs scheme. The prices we are getting from our agriculture output are insignificant for farming to fund itself, artisanal mining, for now, is the only solution.” Mbuya waKupa an artisanal miner said.

The women who go for their mining adventures with their children said there would get a maximum of 1 gram of gold on a good day and artisanal mining has been sustainable in funding their farming business.

“We come to work with our children because that is what we have. We are here only during this season, during the rainy season we go for farming. The maximum gold we get a day is a gram.”

The women also said that artisanal mining was hard as men would want to elbow them away from their mining areas and some would want to steal from them.

The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela) has been urging the government to enact laws and policies which promote gender parity and protect women in mining.

“Gender mainstreaming across the mining value chain is of paramount importance. The government should enact laws and policies and ensure adherence to Section 17 of the Constitution which calls for gender parity in all spheres.

“The government should support women in mining with the requisite tools to resuscitate their businesses, failure of which could result in some of them failing to continue with their mining operations, thus, plunging them deep into poverty,” Zela said in a statement sometime this year.

The organisation is of the view that the Covid-19 pandemic had negatively affected women run or owned businesses the most, therefore, urged the government to speed up the formalisation of artisanal miners.

“The government should thus ensure it brings finality to the formalisation of artisanal mining. Delays in formalising and regularising artisanal miners continue to affect the sector players whose contribution to the growth and development of Zimbabwe’s economy cannot be overemphasised.”

Tutsi mine pushing to exemplary ASM growth initiative

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Tutsi mine pushing to exemplary ASM growth initiative

A 6-month small scale mine venture in Kadoma, Tutsi mining is proving that small scale and artisanal miners have the capacity to grow to a standard world-class mine.

Rudairo Mapuranga

According to Tutsi Mine Managing Director Mr Thulani Murukayi, the mine which is developing from artisanal mining to small scale has been empowering the community in which they are operating with different initiatives for the past five months.

The mine has been reconstructing and constructing roads, sinking boreholes, employing more than half of its workers from the community and is planning to build a nursery school just behind the mine.

Construction of 30 houses for its workers is also expected to begin in the first half of the coming year, showing that with consistency small scale mining can grow to sustain the economy.

“We are building roads and have managed to sink boreholes, more than half of our workers are coming from the community and we are planning to build a nursery school here.

“We are also planning on building 30 houses for our workers,” Thulani said.

According to Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Mashonaland West province chairperson Mr Timothy Chizuzu addressing workers at the mine the initiative for the development and growth of the small scale and artisanal mining sector through formalization and standardisation to maximize production is being met at Tutsi mine.

Chizuzu however advanced Murukayi to address some things to make his operations attractive to national and international standards.

“We discovered that thy are many things which they need to address but the current is proof enough that our sector has all it takes to take the country to the 2030 vision,” Chizuzu said in part as he addressed workers at Tutsi mine in Kadoma.

According to the ZMF MashWest Chairperson Mr Timothy Chizuzu, standardisation of small-Scale mining through advancing to professional mining is of great significance for small scale Miners to achieve ZMF’s target to contribute US$4 billion in revenue by 2023.

Chizuzu said institutions like the school of mines should work in reciprocal with small scale Miners to achieve a world-class and advanced small scale mine that can mine low grades and very deep.

“Small Scale Miners should be assisted in terms of skills development. We have discovered that the office of mining engineers, geologists and metallurgists are of uttermost importance in the maximization of production to reach the US$12 billion mining industry.  We recommend that institutions like the school of mines should bring their students to Miners to assist in the standardisation process, we need them, they need us” Chizuzu said.

He said his executive was working towards educating Miners to take exploration very serious through their mining journey.

6 Chinese, a Zimbabwean die in an explosion at a Mazoe mine

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6 Chinese, a Zimbabwean die in an explosion at a Mazoe mine

Several people have been killed including a child and five Chinese workers at Sasai Mine in Mazowe after an oxygen tank exploded.   

Vongai Mbara  

This was revealed by the former Minister of Energy Fortune Chasi on his social media page.  

“Very sad development at Saisai mine Mazowe South Ward 20. Oxygen tanks burst killing several people who include 1 child, 5 Chinese workers,” he tweeted.  

He added, “Just for the record, this has not been reported by anyone as yet. This is information coming from the constituency. I have brought it to the attention of the relevant minister.”  

This provoked a lot of social media users who blamed Chinese miners for “cutting corners on safety and security.”  

“The Chinese have slack health and safety controls. It’s unfortunate that the relevant authorities who are supposed to enforce it are either well bribed or they are sleeping on the job,” one user commented on the issue.  

In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the incident and said it is carrying its investigation. 

“The ZRP is investigating the circumstances in which six foreign nationals, as well as a Zimbabwean, died when some gas cylinders exploded at SAS mine, Lowdale on 07/10/21.” The Police then released a further statement shortly confirming it was six people who had been killed by the explosion.

Some Chinese-owned companies have previously denied allegations that they were flouting safety regulations.  

Mazowe is well known for its mines as the area is rich in several minerals including gold. There have been plenty of mining accidents in the area but these have been mostly on abandoned mines which are then co-opted by artisanal miners.  

BREAKING: Mine Entra Expo 2021 dates announced

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BREAKING: Mine Entra Expo 2021 dates announced

Mine Entra expo 2021 will this year be held on the 3 – 5 of November 2021.

Posting on her Twitter timeline Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Stella Nkomo shared an image with November 3 – 5 as the dates the event will be held.

Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe Nkomo confirmed the Mine Entra was finally happening after a brief hibernation due to the novel coronavirus.

Having been in existence for a successful 24 consecutive years, the expo has built a solid reputation of providing an integral business and networking platform. Regarded as “the platform” for meetings, networking, and sharing of innovative ideas, the objective of the expo is to bring together the cogs that make Zimbabwe’s mining sector continue to move forward.

More to follow…

Eldorado offering US$5000 reward for suspect identification

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Eldorado offering US$5000 reward for suspect identification

Eldorado Mine is offering a US$5 000 reward for anyone with information that may lead to the arrest and identification of suspects involved in a case of attempted murder of one of their security guards which occurred last month.

Shantel Chisango

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) reported that on the 10th of September this year, at around 06:00hours, a security guard at Eldorado Mine was attacked on his way home coming from work.

The victim was viciously attacked with an axe leaving him injured on the hands, legs and jaws.

Currently, the victim is in Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where he was admitted after being helped by a passerby.
Before disappearing into the bush, the suspects robbed the victim of two Itel smartphones, two head caps, and a pair of safety shoes.

ZRP is appealing for anyone with information to contact National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, Chinhoyi Operations on 0267 2129047, or Police General Headquarters Whatsapp number 0712 800 197, or report to any nearest police station.

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