Hwange says H1 coal, coke sales fall, targets region

Business
Zimbabwe’s Hwange Colliery Company said on Wednesday its first-half coal and coke sales fell 10 percent after a slide in production, widening its loss, but aimed to sell more in regional markets during the remainder of the year.

Zimbabwe’s Hwange Colliery Company said on Wednesday its first-half coal and coke sales fell 10 percent after a slide in production, widening its loss, but aimed to sell more in regional markets during the remainder of the year.

Reuters

Hwange, in which the government is the biggest shareholder with 37 percent shares, is the nation’s second largest coal producer and supplies coke to the national electricity company.

HWANGE-COLLIERY

The company sold 685,759 tonnes of coal and coke between January and June, down from 764,813 tonnes during the same period in 2014. This resulted in a decline in revenue to $35.4 million from $40 million previously.

After tax loss nearly doubled to $15.6 million compared with $7.9 million in 2014.

Farai Mutamangira, Hwange’s chairman said in a statement he saw sales growth opportunities in regional markets, especially South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

In March, Hwange signed an agreement to sell coke and coke products to global miner Glencore on a six-month trial period.

Hwange managing director Thomas Makore would not comment further on Wednesday.

Hwange’s plan for a rights issue and a private placement to convert its $80 million debt to government into equity would be discussed by shareholders soon, Mutamangira said.