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by about 40 percent to 200 000 tonnes a year, an official from the marketing department, Mr Jenphanie Mswere, has said.
The company, a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (Boot) agreement between Taiyuan Sanxing Coal Gasification
Company of China, Hwange Colliery Company Limited and Stoat Mining, presently produces 144 000 tonnes of coke.
The company makes foundry coke, metallurgical coke, coke nuts, coke breeze and crude tar. Coking coal is used mainly in the production of steel and other industrial applications.
Mr Mswere said the company was embarking on an expansion drive to double production with equipment expected to come from China.
Mr Mswere said the second phase of the coking facility was meant to meet demand for its products on the local and international markets.
“We are working on the construction of our second phase of which the Chinese have started bringing equipment from China which means after the second phase, we will be the second largest producer (of coke) in Africa,” he said in an interview recently.
The company has 250 employees and generates sales of between $3 million and $5 million.
He said the major drawback facing the company was the inability of Hwange Colliery Company Limited to supply them with adequate coal.
“Besides the problems with supply of coal we are also facing logistics problems in terms of rail transport as National Railways of Zimbabwe wants payment in advance.
“The productivity of the company and capacity utilisation has been very impressive and we hope to conquer regional markets in the near future.”
Mr Mswere said their major markets were the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and South Africa.
“Our international markets are satisfied with us because HCGC is fully equipped with the best state-of-the-art equipment, quality assurance laboratory which enhances quality, screening plant and machinery for the production of quality coke.”
He said locally they had managed to create job opportunities especially for the youths as the company boasts of 250 employees.
“Of the 250 people we have, almost 80 percent of that number comprises youths hence reducing the number of people who are on the streets,” he said.
Online Reporter