adminFormerly owned by South Africa-based businessman Mr Mutumwa Mawere, SMM is now administered by the ZMDC on behalf of the Government.
The mine collapsed in 2008, leaving an estimated 3 000 workers jobless and Zvishavane and Mashava ghost towns.
ZMDC chairperson Mr Goodwills Masimirembwa told New Ziana that mining operations would commence within 90 days.
“We are almost completing the feasibility study that will pave way for the commencement of mining operations at Shabanie-Mashaba Mines,” he said.
“We hope that in the next 90 days, mining operations will have started.”
Mr Masimirembwa said the ZMDC was determined to revive SMM as it had already paid workers their outstanding salaries.
“To prove that we are determined to revive the mines, we paid SMM workers last week on Friday.”
Before suspending operations, SMM used to produce an estimated 200 000 tonnes of asbestos every year.
Once one of Africa’s largest asbestos producers, the mine had access to markets in the US, UK, Angola, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique, India, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, China and Indonesia.
SMM is believed to be sitting on reserves that can be exploited for the next 20 years, strengthening the construction and manufacturing industries which had been on the decline.
Following the closure of the asbestos mines, local roofing materials supplier, Turnall, is now forced to import from Brazil and Russia asbestos fibre used in the manufacture of roofing sheets. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter