Zimbabwe’ largest Platinum producer Zimplats recently appointed a 30-year-old female mining engineer Tsitsi Dhambuza as its mine captain demonstrating that it is committed to diversity and inclusion.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Dhambuza said she was honoured to have been awarded the post and it shows that Zimplats recognizes qualifications, attitude and capability regardless of gender.
“Zimplats is committed to diversity and inclusion. Zimplats recently appointed its first female mine captain, Tsitsi Dhambuza, a 30-year-old mining engineer,” the miner said in a statement.
Commenting on the appointment Tsitsi said: “I am immensely proud and honoured to be the first female mine captain at Zimplats, as it shows the Company recognises the right qualifications, attitude and capabilities, regardless of gender,” Implats said.
The Zimbabwe mining sector did not have many women engineers before 2015. Tsitsi is one of the few female mining engineers that were from the post-2015 era and probably the first at Zimplats to attain such a role considering the background. It is applaudable that she has been given the role, it is a milestone to those who advocate for gender equity and empowering of women. Post-2015 era, at least more than five female mining engineers are graduating from the local institutions, and the country now has more than one institution offering Mining Engineering as a degree program.
Australian Stock Exchange-listed platinum mining company, Zimplats has proven that it is committed to environmental conservation and the reduction of food waste.
Anerudo Mapuranga
According to the miner’s parent company, Impala Platinum BV (Implats) Zimplats has had a 50 per cent reduction in food waste through vermiculture and vermicomposting resulting in the reduction in pollution.
“Zimplats has embarked on vermiculture and vermicomposting waste management initiative, which has led to a 50 per cent reduction in food waste sent to the landfill, which in turn will result in an extension of the operating life landfill facility, as well as a reduction in pollution. The sustainable waste management initiative aims to reduce food waste and other bridgeable wastes that are normally disposed of through landfilling while creating valuable by-products,” the company said.
Globally, the rapid urbanization, industrialization, technological advancement, and population increase has led to worrisome challenges associated with increasing solid waste production, and management of such huge amounts of wastes is increasingly burdensome. Over one billion tonnes of solid wastes are generated annually and are ending up unscientifically in the environment, producing social, economic, and environmental costs. Proper management of this enormous amount of waste is a big challenge for humankind.
Researchers across the world are searching for new, innovative, and eco-friendly technologies for waste management. Biological methods are more suitable for waste treatment, as they recycle the various constituents of waste into valuable end products and can be cost-effective. Vermicomposting is one such effective biological method for waste management in which microbes assist earthworms in waste degradation.
Vermicomposting is a bio-oxidative natural decomposition process that occurs under mesophilic conditions further aided by the biochemical action of microorganisms. Various categories of wastes are vermicomposted using different earthworm species. The mutual action of worms and microbes convert waste into fine, homogenized, odour-free, nutrient-rich, and humus-rich manure that is called vermicompost.
Earthworms fragment the waste substrate in their intestine and improve their physicochemical characteristics by enhancing organic matter decomposition. Microorganisms present in the guts of earthworms help in the biochemical degradation of the waste. Vermicompost is an efficient growth promoter for plants, as it contains plant-available nutrients, a rich microbial population, humic substances, growth hormones, and enzymes.
A number of studies on the use of vermicompost as an organic fertilizer have proved that it improves crop growth and yield. Furthermore, vermicomposting also helps achieve a circular bio-economy by converting waste into useful products that are necessary for the overall sustainable development of a country.
Platinum group metals (PGM) producer, Mimosa Mining Company has assisted frontline workers who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in Zvishavane and Mberengwa districts.
Rudairo Mapuranga
According to Mimosa’ parent company Implats, the company donated food hampers and Personal Protective Equipment to health practitioners in the districts in an effort to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our Mimosa operation has recently taken steps to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on frontline staff, through donating food hampers and PPE to nurses, doctors and other health practitioners in Zvishavane and Mberengwa districts of Zimbabwe,” Implats said.
Also recently, Implats owned platinum miner, Zimplats partnered with the Mhondoro Ngezi Rural District Council (MNRDC) to construct a COVID-19 isolation centre, with Zimplats donating the furniture and equipment valued at US$43 000.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zimplats has demonstrated its core values of respect, care and delivery by donating ventilators, oxygen concentrators, oxygen tanks, disinfectants, sanitisers and knapsack sprayers and surgical masks to 8 hospitals as part of efforts to empower medical institutions.
The platinum mining giants have been instrumental in the fight against Covid-19 in Zimbabwe to help President HE Emmerson Mnangagwa for the country to achieve herd immunity by year-end.
Eliakem Hove, Freda Rebecca and Shamva mine boss – Interview
In August 2021 the Mining Zimbabwe team had a tour of Freda Rebeccagold mine the country’s biggest gold producer run by its Managing Director Mr Eliakem Hove. Hove doubles as Shamva mine Managing Director as well.
We couldn’t help but marvel at the smooth operations, monster machinery and best of all the visit to the “gold room” where gold is processed and smelted into gold bars. What an experience!
We had the privilege of interviewing the Freda Rebecca boss Mr Eliakem Hove a highly respected and prominent figure in the Zimbabwe Mining industry. The soft-spoken Hove gave us an insight into Freda Rebecca’s mining operations and his view of Zimbabwe’s mining industry. Here is how our interaction went.
KS: Thank you for having us Mr Hove, may you share a brief background of yourself.
Eliakem Hove: I am a Mining Engineer by profession with over 30 years in the Mining Industry encompassing senior operational, technical and production experience with various organizations. I am currently the Managing Director of Freda Rebecca and Shamva Gold Mines. I have a vested interest in team-building and personnel development.
KS: You are running one of the country’s biggest gold-producing companies. What is your working day like?
Eliakem Hove: It basically consists of a review of the previous week performance, Planning of the current week performance, Funding and Cashflow planning, Production momentum, Capital projects review, Critical stock review, Stakeholders’ in the tray.
KS: We understand that when Kuvimba Mining House took over Freda Rebecca Mine last year, the mine was producing about 150 kilogrammes of gold per month. Currently, how many kgs of gold are you producing per month?
Eliakem Hove: This financial year we have averaged 281kgs against an average budget of 248kgs. The highest performance was of course 311kg achieved in June.
KS: What is your 2021 target in terms of gold production?
Eliakem Hove: Our year runs from April to March. This current year is called FY2022 and it started last April. The target for FY2022 is 103,521Oz (3.22tons) which I am confident will be surpassed based on current performance.
KS: In terms of CAPEX, so far how much have you invested into the business?
Eliakem Hove: We have invested US$ 3.50 per ton milled in stay in business Capex (SIB). For FY 2020 -2021 we have invested over US$20m and the development Capex into Shamva and FRGM and we are looking forward to investing US$26m more this year and over US$180m into Shamva Hill project in the next 2 years.
KS: What are the major challenges are you facing as a mining company in Zimbabwe and how do you think those challenges could be solved?
Eliakem Hove: The main challenge we are facing is the cost creep that is coming through the discrepancy between the official ZWL: US rate and the alternate rate. Of course, our procurement strategy is to lean towards offshore procurement to mitigate this exchange risk but there are some local services and goods that we require as a mine. These are pegged at parallel rates most of the time as providers will be trying to mitigate the exchange risk.
The 60:40 split of proceeds is not favourable as the cost profile is dominated by offshore supply.
The impact of incremental incentives is yet to be implemented and the benefit for mature optimized mines will be minimal
Furthermore, limited access to forex auction by our service providers and contractors make it worse.
When we talk of changes we cannot afford not to mention the devilish Covid-19. Its effects are obvious. We have lost 2 employees already this current year.
Access to capital and the cost of capital has remained a challenge for the operation.
Eliakem Hove addressing Association of Mine Managers of Zimbabwe (AMMZ) at Shamva Mine in 2021
KS: Some mining companies in Zimbabwe have been decrying power challenges. Are you also facing similar challenges? If so, could you tell us how you have been affected?
Eliakem Hove: Yes we have not been spared. Despite being on a ring-fenced tariff agreement with ZESA that guarantees continuity of electrical supply, load shedding does occur but only when the utility supply is seriously suppressed. Our major power supply challenges are infrastructural because of ageing powerline infrastructure and equipment. We are losing 200 milling hours per month on average
KS: You recently dismissed the assertion that the resource left at Freda is less than five years! What are your expansion plans?
Eliakem Hove: It is true that FRGM has a remaining life of Mine of about 5 years and our thrust is to find its replacement. Organically, we have claims in the form of Alice, Topsman and Savoy that we anticipate spending money on for more information and confidence. We will also look at re-optimising the pit. Our anticipation is we will have a bigger pit. The exercise to assess that has already begun.
Outside our claims, we are open to synergies with other near mine ore sources. Already we have Shamva mine which is hauling its ore to Freda. We will also consider partnerships with other near mine producers.
KS: As a primary gold producer, how are you supporting small-scale miners in the country?
Eliakem Hove: There is no clear formal engagement framework yet. We offer technical support when approached and emergency services in response to distress. The biggest challenge that we face is the lack of organisation on the part of small-scale miners for us to offer significant support.
KS: We recently had a tour of your gold processing centre can you give our audience just a brief what happens in the hot room?
Eliakem Hove In the “Gold Room” – this where we acid digest gold loaded wire wool from the elution section, calcine “i.e. dry” them at high temperature to allow some partial oxidation of the wire wool. The calcined wire wool is then mixed with chemical fluxes that will allow the chemical removal of impurities when smelting at very high temperatures above 1200°C to give smelt gold bullion with a purity of between 65 to 85% gold.
KS: The 60/40 foreign retention seems to be a challenge on mine operations in Zimbabwe as operational costs are increasing. Any comments on that?
Eliakem Hove: The 60/40 split is not sustainable as the USD cost proportions are over 60%. Engagements for the removal of the 20% surrender portion for local Nostro payments are ongoing as suppliers are hedging against this loss through price escalation. The retention split strains capability to self-finance capital projects
KS: As Zimbabwe’s largest gold operating mine what’s your word of advice to those who say Zimbabwe is a bad investment destination?
Eliakem Hove: Zimbabwe is actually a good investment destination. It is the perception that requires changing to attract exploration and Greenfields investments. Opportunities to invest in brownfields, as well as existing operations, are available.
KS: What is Freda Rebecca doing to protect workers against COVID-19?
Eliakem Hove: Sound Covid-19 Management framework informed by WHO guidelines and MoHCCZ statutes are in place. We have established a Covid-19 screening centre which is currently busy with vaccinating employees and their dependents for free. To date, the clinic has vaccinated 1557 people. Of those, 699 have been fully vaccinated.
The mine has recruited additional nurses to screen employees at all our entry points. We have also put measures to maintain social distances when transporting employees, and the mine has had to hire 5 by 75-seater buses since the advent of the pandemic.
In addition to the Covid-19 screening centre, we also established a fully manned and fully equipped isolation centre for the positive cases.
KS: The world is going digital and in Zimbabwe, we seem to be lagging. How are you doing as a mining company on Digitalization?
Eliakem Hove: We are trying to keep pace with the world trends. Our meetings are now done online. The security system is largely digital. Most process controls have gone digital. Data analytics is now on a digital platform. In a nutshell, we are at an acceptable level of digitalization. Labour compliment on IT has recently increased to show our seriousness on digitalization.
KS: How is your safety record in 2021?
Eliakem Hove: The safety performance for the operation is good. For FY2022, we have had 25 incidents of which 17 are property and equipment damage largely because we are a mechanized mine and therefore, we have a high density of mobile equipment. Only 3 are lost-time injuries. Our goal is zero harm to people, equipment and the environment.
KS: Despite the Zimbabwe Gold Mining industry being a multi-billion dollar industry, we do not have young millionaires in the industry (or some keep it hush) what could be limiting the potential of young indigenous miners
Eliakem Hove: Equitable access to capital and resources has been a major challenge. The challenge has been taken and we should be seeing several upcoming young millionaires in future.
KS: Besides work what do you enjoy doing and family
Eliakem Hove: I’m an avid farmer specializing in poultry farming, piggery and free-range chickens.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has requested for $8 million to enhance efforts towards the resuscitation of shutdown mines through engagement with investors and relevant stakeholders.
Vongai Mbara
Speaking at the 2022 pre-budget seminar that was held in Victoria Falls, Mines Minister Winston Chitando said his Ministry is working hard to ensure that closed mines dotted around the country are reopened to enhance employment creation and improve mining revenue going into the fiscus.
“The ministry will enhance its efforts towards the resuscitation of closed mines. A total of $8 172 604 is required to support promotional activities, engagement with investors and relevant stakeholders towards the reopening of the closed mines,” Chitando’s report read.
“More effort is also being made through Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) whereby they are engaging various investors to reopen closed mines. The Ministry intends to transform the Lupane office into a full-fledged provincial office. Currently, Bulawayo Metropolitan hosts most of the staff and operations of the province,” said Chitando.
Currently, Zimbabwe has a lot of large-scale mines that were shut down owing to the prevailing economic meltdown, leaving thousands of employees jobless.
Some of the mines that are comatose include Shabanie Mashaba Mines in Zvishavane, Nan Jiang Africa diamond mine in the Save Valley Conservancy in Bikita, among several others.
Chitando said in line with the government’s devolution and decentralisation policy, there is a need to develop the Lupane Mines office into a full-fledged provincial office.
“Funding will, therefore, be required for the acquisition of land, construction of appropriate offices, fully furnishing the offices and provision of requisite tools of trade. In this regard, the ministry requires $150 000 000 to achieve this target.”
He noted that in terms of the Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05], any mining company that invests more than US$100 million may apply for a Special Mining Lease which allows the company to negotiate various tax concessions with the Government.
Minister Chitando also said that the Ministry will capacitate Mining Promotion Corporation (MPC) by approximately $5 million to help it spearhead the exploration needs for the year 2022 by the private sector and that of the Zimbabwe Geological Survey.
He added, “It was also recommended that a lithium smelting and processing plant should be set up to produce products rather than export raw minerals. Value addition of raw lithium will bring more revenue to the government and production of finished products such as batteries given that this time due to climatic conditions, countries are moving to cleaner energy.”
Chitando said his ministry was on course in terms of achieving a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023 with a view to attaining an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Two armed robbers who were posing as police officers were arrested by the police in Mutawatawa Mashonaland East province.
Vongai Mbara
The pair of Chikomborero Gono (28) and Luckson Tsingano (32), robbed Tinotenda Karumazondo (21) employed at a local gold milling company of USD15 000, 49g gold and a cellphone then kidnapped him, tying him with shoelaces and spraying him with an unknown substance which made him unconscious.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the arrest in a Twitter post said,“Police in Mutawatawa joined hands with members of the public and managed to arrest two of the several armed robbery suspects, who were masquerading as police officers.
“The suspects robbed Tinotenda Karumazondo (21) employed at a local gold milling company of US$15 000, 49 grammes of gold and a cellphone before kidnapping him, tying him with shoelaces and spraying him with an unknown substance that made him unconscious.”
A member of the public reportedly sustained a gunshot wound on the palm during the robbery.
Gono and Tsingano are assisting police with investigations, while a manhunt has since been launched for the other unidentified suspects.
Industry and Commerce deputy minister Raheshkumar (Raji) Modi has revealed the defunct Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco) requires US$360 million for its resuscitation.
Vongai Mbara
Once Africa’s largest integrated steelworks company, Ziscosteel was shut down in 2008 owing to the economic decline in the country, mismanagement and corruption.
Speaking at the 2022 pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls, the deputy minister told legislators that his Ministry had appointed a board of directors to spearhead the resuscitation of the steelmaker and bids to invite investors had already been advertised.
In his report, Modi said his Ministry had successfully addressed corporate governance issues that contributed to the collapse of the former steel giant which was one of the major employers for engineers in the country.
“In line with NDS 1 (National Development Strategy 1), the iron and steel value chain is prioritising the resuscitation of Zisco,” Modi said.
“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce addressed corporate governance issues at Zisco. A full board of directors was put in place. It will lead to the resuscitation of Zisco through identifying a strategic partner. The board immediately held its strategic planning session and identified that it needed US$360 million for resuscitation. Resuscitation of Ziscosteel will go a long way in establishing a sustainable engineering, iron and steel industry. It will have positive spillover effects to other sectors of the economy. Around US$1 billion will be saved with the revival of Zisco,” he said.
According to Modi, the country is spending over US$1,1 billion annually to import steel raw materials following the closure of Ziscosteel.
“There are a total of seven iron and steel companies which are involved in the process of shaping steel, aluminium and other metals. The sector currently employs 13 527 people and has an average capacity utilisation of about 36,4%. The sector has a huge import bill for raw materials which amounts to about US$1,1 billion annually. The huge import bill has been attributed to the closure of Zisco which was the major supplier of the required raw materials.”
The Ministry said it was working towards reviving key strategic industries so as to create employment and increase export earnings, thereby reducing the import bills.
In January 2018, the government took over a Ziscosteel debt of about US$500 million in a bid to entice new investors and remove litigation hurdles.
Now, Ziscosteel is 89% owned by the government, while the remainder is in the hands of private shareholders. The company owns Buchwa Mining Company, Lancashire Steel, ZimChem and Frontier Steel.
The new investor is expected to give 35% of the design, procurement and construction operations to local companies and residents.
If resuscitated, Ziscosteel can provide a lifeline to various companies in the value chain. The company used to produce mainly for the exportmarket.
Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Secretary for Semi-Precious and Gemstones Mr Privalege Moyo has implored that Zimbabwe needs to revisit the Indigenization and economic Act to help communities benefit from their minerals.
Anerudo Mapuranga
According to Moyo, the situation where foreign companies own 100 per cent of mining and agricultural land in the country should be revisited so that the local people benefit from displacements and environmental impacts happening in their areas. He said the minerals have zero attachment to local communities’ growth and development because they are benefiting other nations.
“Chrome is attached to foreigners at zero per cent, it is as good as handing over our minerals to other countries. The registration and taxes are insignificant, that is why many are making a lot of money on stock exchanges. Indigenization needs to incorporate minerals, agriculture, no one should own a farm or a mine without locals. In Dubai, it is being done,” Moyo said.
Chrome Miners Association Chairperson Mr Shelton Lucas said it was of importance for the country to revisit the economic and indigenization blueprint which intended to empower the local people to benefit from minerals.
He said the government is supposed to take the harsh approach taken by the previous dispensation to discourage through the law any foreign companies and individuals for having more than 49 per cent shares in any business.
“On indigenization, that 51/49 should be adopted since these are finite resources which cannot be replenished and the mines act tributary ratio of 5% to the claim holder should be revisited because it arm-twists local miners in terms of negotiating prowess. The local miners will end up settling for less.”
According to the chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mining Development Hon Edmond Mkaratigwa, although it is important for communities to benefit from any development or investment happening in their areas of residence, it is of importance if the initiatives go through a rigorous consultation so that those leading could not take community project for personal enrichment.
“My view is that the agency is important for this initiative to succeed but the thinking that should be embedded in whatever choice of agency or the vehicle that should drive the initiative. Councillors and headmen are important in all this because naturally, they are there to facilitate community development, however, they should be bound by a contract that limits human personal ambition and desire for self-enrichment that can easily be visible even where publicly shared resources are concerned. In terms of the amount of share ownership, those are issues that can be arrived at through participatory negotiation between investors, the government, and the communities. Experience has revealed that it is one way to be allocated the resources and another thing to have the resources visibly impactful to all in the community. Whatever arrangement arrived at should offer some kind of flexibility, guarantee for implementation into a future secure from conflicts as a result of such development. Basically, the development should not cause any harm but more benefits,” Mkaratigwa said.
Australian Stock Exchange-listed mining and exploration company’s investment in the Zimbabwe mining industry has been boosted with the company ending the quarter ended 30 September debt-free.
Rudairo Mapuranga
The company has recorded a debt-free cash balance of A$5.7M, as of 30 September 2021.
According to the company’s Managing Director Sam Hosack the September quarter mainly focused on developing Arcadia and extracting value from our other assets.
He went on to say that completion of the Farvic transaction increased Prospect ownership in Arcadia to 87%.
“The September 2021 quarter was focused on the further development of Arcadia and extracting value from our other assets. We completed the Farvic transaction, increasing Prospect’s ownership in Arcadia to 87% and operated the pilot plant and shipped on-spec technical grade petalite concentrate. Our key focus is to showcase Arcadia’s technical grade petalite to our existing off-takers and their customers in the global glass and ceramics markets.”
“The appointment of Azure Capital and Vermilion Partners as advisers to run a structured partnership process aims to leverage the extensive inbound interest we have received in the Arcadia Project.
The objective of the partnership process is to introduce a competent and aligned partner to provide funding and work alongside Prospect in bringing Arcadia into production, on terms that are favourable to Prospect’s shareholders. I am very pleased with the level of engagement with the potential partners in the process and have received positive feedback regarding the quality of the team’s work in the Staged OFS recently released.
Going forward, along with our colleagues at Lycopodium, we are now working hard to finalize the final phase of study on the Project (being the Direct OFS), as this is a key focus for our potential partners. We look forward to providing further updates to the market in due course.”
On 4 October 2021, Prospect announced that the first 25-tonne container of technical grade petalite concentrate from the Arcadia Pilot Plant was shipped to offtaker Sibelco, with a current inventory onsite of over 70 tonnes.
The Pilot Plant results were consistent with previous lab-scale test work and confirm the amenability of the Arcadia Ore Reserves to the production of an ultra-low iron, technical grade petalite concentrate product containing >4.0% Li2O, <0.06% Fe2O3.and <1.0% combined alkali (Na2O and K2O). The quality of the petalite concentrate in the shipment exceeds the specifications set out in Prospect’s offtake agreement with Sibelco.
Prospect received a pilot plant purchase order from Sibelco in May 2021 for up to 2,000 tonnes of technical grade petalite concentrate. The pricing in the purchase
order represents an implied premium to the prevailing chemical-grade spodumene concentrate (SC6) price of approximately 40%, at the time the order was received.
While the price of technical grade petalite concentrate is typically linked to the price of technical grade lithium carbonate (for which it is a more direct substitute), this comparison to SC6 pricing highlights the significantly higher unit value of the technical grade petalite concentrate product relative to SC6.
The Arcadia Project is one of the most advanced hard rock lithium development projects globally. Following a review of various funding options, and in response to multiple inbound enquiries received from a range of international parties in relation to funding and development of Arcadia, the Prospect Board decided to commence a structured process for the submission of competitive partnership proposals to fully fund the Arcadia project.
The Board is prioritising the development of Arcadia through this partnership process over other funding options, to provide more flexibility, accelerate project execution and bring the project into production at the earliest possibility.
Azure Capital and Vermilion Partners have been appointed by Prospect to run this process. The parties have continued due diligence, including site visits, in line with the process timetable.
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.
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.
Zimbabwe’s major coal producers, Zambezi Gas and Coal Mine in Hwange have invested more than US$10 million in buying a variety of mining equipment which will see monthly production topping 300 000 tonnes.
Vongai Mbara
This comes as the Hwange-based colliery is producing 150 000 tonnes per month.
Speaking during a tour of the mining operation by staff and students from the Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU), operations director Engineer Menard Makota said the equipment was bought from BLC in South Africa at a cost of US$10,4 million.
The tour was led by ZNDU Vice-Chancellor and Commandant Air Vice Marshal Michael Tedzani Moyo, and it is part of the institution’s 10th edition of the National Defence Course and was organised to expose students from various security agents and other countries to Zimbabwean developments, traditional, municipal, provincial and national governance systems.
Before acquiring the new equipment, the mine had between 50 and 100 haulage trucks on-site transporting coal whilst some is carried via rail transport from the site.
“We recently acquired 12 pieces of equipment which includes six dump trucks each with a capacity of 100 tonnes, three excavators, two dozers, water trucks and graders.
“With this equipment, production is going to increase to between 250 000 and 300 000 tonnes from the current 150 000 tonnes per month,” said Eng Makota.
Some of the purchased equipment is already on-site while the other is at the Beitbridge border awaiting clearance while some is still in South Africa.
He added, “We are also going to increase employment levels to over 800 people from the current 450.”
Makota revealed that Zambezi Gas, which sits on an 8 624 hectare concession south-east of Hwange town, was pushing to be the biggest coal producer in the region.
The concession has 180 million tonnes of coal deposits and its biggest customer is the Zimbabwe Power Company, which procures coal for its four thermal power stations, Hwange, Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare.
The mine also supplies coking coal to companies such as South Mining, Afrochine and Dinson Colliery among others, as well as other firms in different sectors like sugar processing, steel-making, and mines such as Zimplats and Unki.
In addition, it supplies to firms in the food and beverages sector, brick and cement-making companies and tobacco farmers. Zambezi Gas and Coal also export to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Zambia.
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