VICTORIA FALLS – Zambezi Gas has started mining coal at its ithuba concession in Hwange after a $6 million investment and expects to produce 25 000 tonnes monthly, chief executive officer Thomas Nherera said yesterday.
“Preliminary work at the concession has begun with $6 million already spent in the preparatory stages. We have built infrastructure at the mine and purchased mining equipment,” he said.
Nherera said they expect the first coal at the end of this month.
The firm was granted special gas and coal concessions in 2003 and 2007 respectively, along with several other companies but lack of technical and financial resources delayed mining activities over the years.
The firm’s 19 000 hectare concession has more than 200 million tonnes of coal reserves. Nherera said the company has targeted to produce 50 000 tonnes of coal by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Nherera said the company was still looking for strategic partner and an investor for its coal-bed methane gas project in the same area.
“Coal-bed methane gas project is a long-term one and we are still looking for investors,” he said.
—The Source
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