Heavy rains disrupt mining operations

Victoria Falls Reporter
HEAVY rains have disrupted coal mining activities in Hwange district where about 90,000 tonnes of coal peas at Makomo Resources meant for electricity generation are submerged in water.
The development resulted in a coal deficit in two small thermal power stations in Bulawayo and Munyati, which rely on supplies from the company.

Makomo Resources general manager, Samson Mabvira, said the Zimbabwe Power Company requested the mine to supply coal peas to Bulawayo and Munyati Thermal Power stations but their efforts had been derailed by the rains as most of the coal peas were under water.

“We understand that stocks at Bulawayo and Munyati are low. The problem has been the rains because most of the peas are under water,” he said.

“So we need to de-water the pits and dry the peas hopefully by weekend and normal supplies to the thermal power stations will resume.”
Mabvira said coal peas production was also linked to power generation at Hwange Thermal Power Station where output was also depressed.

“To access low ash coal, Hwange Power Station has to be mined out first. At the moment Makomo Resources is stockpiling this coal due to depressed off take,” he said.

Bulawayo and Munyati power stations consume about 300 tonnes of coal peas a day and need about 9,000 tonnes per month each.