HCCL set for coke production milestone

HWANGE Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) has received new high-tech mining equipment aimed at transforming underground extraction methods and reinforcing the company’s transition into a value-addition-driven mining powerhouse.

Just a few years ago, HCCL was a shadow of its former self, weighed down by operational inefficiencies and financial distress.

However, since being placed under corporate rescue and the appointment of administrator Mr Munashe Shava, the company has embarked on an ambitious turnaround programme and is now set to produce its first batch of coke within the next 30 days.

The strategy, which prioritises maximising resource extraction and diversifying revenue streams, is now beginning to yield tangible results.

The most significant technical shift has been the adoption of long-hole mining technology, a move expected to fundamentally transform the way coal is extracted from the depths of Hwange.

For decades, the company relied on the room-and-pillar mining method, which left a substantial portion of the coal resource underground.

“The life of the mine was going to be reduced and, as such, we took it upon ourselves to look at other mining methodologies. We are now going to be extracting a recovery minimum of about 95 percent, almost 100 percent.

That is a 30 percent increase in the amount of coal that we are now going to be extracting compared to the previous year,” said Mr Shava in an exclusive interview with Zimpapers.

To facilitate the transition, the company has procured specialised long-hole mining equipment.

“The equipment has been delivered as we speak. We actually are taking the machine into the mines,” said Mr Shava.

He said the development marked a critical step towards improving extraction efficiency and maximising resource recovery before the value-addition process begins.

While efficient mining remains central to the company’s recovery strategy, the cornerstone of the turnaround lies in value addition and beneficiation.

The much-anticipated revival of the coke oven battery marks HCCL’s entry into higher-value coal processing.
“We are going to be expecting our first coke in the next 30 or so days. So far, the progress is exciting; it’s doing very well,” said Mr Shava.

However, the company’s vision extends beyond coke production.

The administrator highlighted HCCL’s commitment to establishing a circular economy by ensuring that even by-products from the coking process are put to productive use.

“We have initiated a collaboration arrangement with the power generators where the excess gas from the coke oven battery is going to be used to power the thermal generators at the power plants,” he said.

Mr Shava said the initiative would help transform HCCL into a more efficient operator, value creator and sustainable and safe mining entity.

The mining industry has also taken note of HCCL’s resurgence.

In a related development, HCCL chief executive officer Engineer William Gambiza has been appointed the new chairperson of the Coal Producers Association of Zimbabwe (CPAZ).

“My appointment comes at a time when Government really has clearly spelt out the critical mineral strategy for Zimbabwe, in which coal has been classified as a strategic mineral,” said Engineer Gambiza.

He emphasised the critical role of coal in Zimbabwe’s economic future, noting that the sector remains a key enabler of reliable baseload power generation, the metallurgical, cement and agricultural industries, export earnings, economic resilience, employment creation and local economic development.

As chairperson of CPAZ, Engineer Gambiza outlined key priorities for the industry, including cost-reflective pricing, improved payment systems, supply chain stability, export market development, infrastructure rehabilitation and stronger industry representation.

“Coal shall continue to be part of our future energies, and we cannot imagine talk about energy in the context of Africa without the inclusion of coal,” he said.

As the new chairperson, Engineer Gambiza said he would serve as a critical bridge between coal producers, State-owned power utilities and regulatory ministries, focusing on pricing, payment advocacy and supply-chain coordination to enhance energy security and drive regional export growth.