By Shadreck Gurenje
in Hwange
Mines and Mining development Minister has said Hwange Colliery are on track in fulfillment of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of growing the economy towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Speaking to the media during his tour of Mines and Energy mineral projects in Hwange, Mines and Mining Development Minister Hon Winston Chitando said to achieve the national vision of being an upper middle-income society is not an event but a process.
The project is a joint venture between Hwange Colliery and the Chinese firm Zhong Jiani Investment (ZJI) to map forward a new underground coal mine in Hwange, Zimbabwe.
“The joint venture between Hwange colliery and ZJI and this Joint venture was put in place to unlock underground potential which is here at this mine. It was very interesting to learn of the plans which are there, the overall mine plan of this particular underground mining.
“They will start developing from about 2kms that is where they started their targeted life of mining is going up to 6km. So, it is a very long shaft. At intervals they will be side shafts extending from 2kms, this new power plant is one of the biggest underground production sites in the country and we are targeting 3 million tonnes per annum, so it is very significant.
“Initially this is supporting resuscitated Hwange colliery company battery which will be producing 18 000tonnes of coal per annum and very interesting the joint venture company, Hwange Colliery and Partner are staring a foundation of a very staggering 1,8million tonnes per annum coal battery one of the biggest we can get,” said Minister Chitando.
Minister Chitando also reiterated that Hwange Colliery Company is playing a pivotal role towards economic growth under the Second Republic.
“Once again this is fulfillment of His Excellency vision of owning the economy we he talks of an upper middle-income economy which means growing the GDP so that it goes to the upper middle-income economy, that is not an event it is a process.
“The process is underway Hwange Colliery is doing well particular one of the three underground mines is what we have now moving towards a 3 million t onnes per annum metrological coke production and also construction of 1.8billion Tonnes per annum of coal battery,” said Minister Chitando
Minister Chitando also commented the Chinese firm Zhong Jiani Investment (ZJI) for unlocking the underground mining potential in the Hwange mining area.