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Oliver Kazunga Business Reporter
Consultants have finished undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment on a proposed coal mine in Lupane to be set up by China Africa Sunlight Energy.China Africa Sunlight Energy is a joint-venture between Old Stone Investments of Zimbabwe and Shandong Taishan Sunlight, a Chinese conglomerate.
In an interview yesterday, the firm’s general manager Retired Colonel Charles Mugari said the EIA report was being reviewed and the results were expected next month.
“We have done the EIA which is now under review by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA). We are expecting the EIA results by mid September,” he said.
Rtd Col Mugari expressed optimism that his organisation would secure certification from EMA paving way for them to start designing and building the colliery before the end of the year.
“We are now doing a detailed feasibility study and design of the mine so that construction of the mine starts in November,” said Rtd Col Mugari.
The joint-venture operation, Rtd Col Mugari said, also intends to develop a 600 megawatt thermal power station.
Electricity to be generated by China Africa Sunlight Energy will be fed into the national power grid.
He said mining operations at the colliery that would employ about 1 000 jobs were expected to start next year while the thermal power production will begin at the end of 2015.
The mining concern has already secured water rights from the Ministry of Water Resources and Development and a power generation licence from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.
In the past, concerns were raised by different stakeholders that coal mining activities in Gwayi area could impact negatively on the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam meant to alleviate water woes in Bulawayo.
Online Reporter