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ZIMBABWE’S second largest colliery, Makomo Resources has resumed coal supplies to Bulawayo and Harare thermal power stations following the de-watering of pits used for drying coal peas at the mine.Following the incessant rains that pounded Hwange District a few weeks ago, more than 90,000 tonnes of coal peas were submerged forcing the colliery to temporarily suspend supplies to the power plants.
Speaking by telephone yesterday, Makomo Resources general manager Samson Mabvira said they have contained the situation and have resumed supplies.
“We have dealt with the problem and supplies to Bulawayo and Harare thermal power stations have resumed. This week, we have already supplied 4,000 tonnes of coal peas to both Bulawayo and Harare. As we speak, we are busy loading 1,000 tonnes of coal peas for each of the two power stations,” he said.
Coal peas are used in electricity generation and as of yesterday the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) indicated that Bulawayo thermal power station was generating 25 egawatts while Harare thermal power plant produced 38MW.
Bulawayo and Harare thermal power stations have installed capacities of 90MW and 100MW respectively. ZPC has requested Makomo Resources to supply the thermal power stations with coal peas.
However, as a result of the recent incessant rains, efforts by the colliery company to augment coal peas’ supplies at the two power plants had been affected by the rains. Bulawayo and Harare power stations burn about 300 tonnes of coal peas a day and need about 9,000 tonnes per month each.
As part of their efforts to improve production, Makomo Resources last year acquired a $14 million coal washing plant for upgrading the quality of coal for the market.
The coal was being processed at the colliery’s Entuba Coalfields in Hwange. In the past few years, the coal miner added two crushers from one it had as it sought to improve production.
Makomo Resources is one of the five private firms including Liberation that government gave licences to extract the black gold in Matabeleland North Province.
Zimbabwe’s coal production is expected to increase to four million tonnes this year underpinned by ramping up of production by Makomo Resources.
In the 2014 national budget, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said cumulative coal output for the eight months to August 2013 was 2,2 million tonnes, necessitating an upward revision of the initial annual target of two million tonnes.
Online Reporter