adminoperations and for coal preparation plant, company spokesperson Mr Burzil Dube said yesterday.
In April, the coal miner invited bids for a wide range of equipment for its underground mine operations, open-cast mines and coal treatment plant under a credit finance facility as it targets to raise production.
Seven foreign firms submitted their bids — two from India, another two from South Africa and one apiece from China, Australia and the United States.
The rest of the bids were from local companies. Of the 39 bids, eight tendered to supply underground equipment.
“The majority of submitted bids were for open-cast and coal handling categories,” said Mr Dube.
“There would be an adjudication team to evaluate the bids before making presentation to the board. The final winner will be announced in August.”
Hwange, which has an installed capacity to produce five million tonnes of coal per year, has been operating below capacity due to dependence on old equipment.
It requires more than US$175 million for recapitalisation.
Ten years ago the company produced about four million tonnes of coal-related products, before production fell by about 50 percent between 2000 and 2009 when
Zimbabwe’s economy contracted by 40 percent.
Hwange is expanding its export market base and is targeting South America and Asia.
It would start supplying India in the next few weeks. Its major export markets include Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo where copper production has been on the increase.
On the domestic market, the company anticipates growth in tobacco and improvement in capacity utilisation by manufacturers.
Online Reporter