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Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Gift Chimanikire told Business Chronicle that five of the 20 companies were already mining while two had done nothing on the ground.
“Thirteen companies have so far completed their exploration and will soon be starting mining. Liberation, which is one of the companies granted exploration rights in Matabeleland North, have indicated to start mining coal in June this year,” he said.
He said Stonbridge and McShan Investments showed no signs of exploration work 18 months after being granting of the special grants.
“We have written to those that have done nothing on the ground advising them that we are at the stage of cancelling their licences because we cannot have a situation where the concessions are held for speculative activities,” he said.
Geo Associates and Chilota Mining are some of the companies that recently completed exploration work to mine coal while five firms that were already mining in Matabeleland include Makomo Resources, WK Blasting and Clidder.
Mr Chimanikire said sometime next month, he will tour the mining companies in Matabeleland North to get first-hand information regarding the progress made on coal concessions.
“So far, the information that we have about exploration progress in Matabeleland North is on paper. In April, I will be touring the companies to check on their exploration progress,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe had the potential to become the world’s largest exporter of coal given the vast tracts of coal it has.
“Zimbabwe has the potential to be the largest exporter of coal in the world and if we delay exploiting the mineral we may end up losing the market to neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, which is presently exporting its coal,” he said.
Online Reporter