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Patrick Chitumba in Victoria Falls
New coal miner Makomo Resources Mine has invested in new machinery worth $13 million while production has surged to 60 000 tonnes per month from just 4 000 tonnes when operations started three years ago, an official has said.In an interview on the sidelines of the mine’s third anniversary commemorations in Hwange last Friday, the production manager, Mr Barnard Zvigumbu, said the mine had invested in new mining machinery to sustain an anticipated surge in production.
“We have managed to pump up production from 4 000 tonnes a month in 2011 to 60 000 tonnes,” he said.
Mr Zvigumbu said the mine was specialising in producing coal peas for small thermal power stations and cobbles for farmers.
He said the mandate of the mine had been to supply coal to Hwange Power Company (HPC), a task which he said they managed to fulfil over the years.
“We managed to sustain HPC by delivering coal for its thermal power station from November 2011 to now. We are also in the process of constructing a direct road to HPS so that there is a short way to deliver coal directly to the station,” said Mr Zvigumbu.
He said they were now in the process of building a washing plant so that they are able to process a premium product which can be used in chrome and steel products.
Mr Zvigumbu said the capitalisation of the mine was on-going.
“We have purchased 777Bs by 12 dump trucks, eight by 785Bs dump trucks which will focus on moving coal and overburden, four water bowsers.
“Half of these machines are already on site and the rest are coming soon so that we sustain the growth we are facing,” he said.
Makomo Resources Mine is one of the fastest growing indigenous mines in the country, established courtesy of the national empowerment and indigenisation policy.
It is one of the 18 indigenous companies issued with mining licences by the Government in 2010.
Online Reporter