HCCL concessions to increase mine life by 70 years

Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
COAL mining giant Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) has started the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for its two new concessions which are meant to increase life for the mine by 70 years.

HCCL managing director Mr Thomas Makore said the EIA process started last week at the Western Area and the one for Lubimbi was expected to be carried out this week.

The Government granted the company new concessions at Western Area and Lubimbi West and East this year.

The new concessions hold deposits in excess of a billion tonnes of coal consisting of both coking coal and thermal coal at Western areas and Lubimbi West while Lubimbi East has prevalence of coal-bed methane gas, giving HCCL an additional estimated life of mine of above 70 years.

The coal-mining giant was now facing a challenge to ensure that its mine lifespan was extended since the resources at its opencast concessions were on the verge of depletion.

“EIA study for Western areas commenced on Monday (last week) while for Lubimbi will start on 16 November. They will be conducted simultaneously. EIA reports for both areas are expected during January 2016,” Mr Makore said.

He said the company intends to mine both coal and coal-bed methane gas if the exploration results are positive.

The company is in the process of seeking a partner or financier to assist it in developing its newly-granted mining concessions.

Its EIAs are being undertaken by one of the country’s reputable, environmental consultancy firm, Environmental Guardians Services (EGS).

“We have submitted the prospectors for Western Areas and we are starting one for Lubimbi next week including the EIA for Western Areas and then we will advertise in the Press calling for stakeholders that will be affected or are interested parties to respond to the development of the two projects,” said EGS senior consultant, Mr Michael Montana.

EGS has done environmental consultancy work for various institutions across economic sectors mostly in Matabeleland region and the Midlands Province.

In the coal mining sector it has been engaged by China-Africa Sunlight Energy, Discovery Investment, Liberation Mining, Sable Mining, Chilota and Markrock Investment mines.