My Blog

Category: Mining

  • Hwange Colliery invests US$60m in underground mine

    Hwange Colliery Company Limited has invested about US$60 million into its underground coal mining project, which is expected to drive the company’s turnaround strategy.

    The investment is part of the joint venture between HCCL and Zhongjin Investments and is designed to unlock the underground potential of Zimbabwe’s oldest colliery operation.

    The project will also support the resuscitation of HCCL’s coke oven battery, which will produce 18 000 tonnes of coke per annum.

    The colliery company, which was placed under administration more than two years ago, is on a growth trajectory, riding on an efficient Business Improvement Plan adopted by the new management.

    Financial and operational challenges left the company on the brink of collapse before the Government took a strategic decision to put it into administration.

    In a record two years, the company has been successfully turned around, producing over four million tonnes of coal annually.

    HCCL is key to Zimbabwe’s economy as a major coal producer crucial for national energy security and industrial development, supplying the Hwange Power Station, the country’s biggest main power producer.

    It also provides coking coal for other key industrial operations, including an emerging steel making giant Manhize, while it creates numerous jobs and drives economic activity around Hwange and produces products for the export markets.

    Engineer Akim Mutiti, the company’s underground mining consultant, speaking during a tour of the mine by Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, said to date, two shafts had been drilled, each a kilometer deep, at an inclination of 12 degrees.

    “Coal is intersected at one kilometre from here and at that point, the coal is 240 meters below the surface. At the bottom of the shafts, there are development tunnels. We have developed almost a kilometre from the bottom of the shaft and we are continuing development until we get to almost 6 kilometres,” he said.

    Eng Mutiti said as the underground mine project progressed, the company was already in production, churning out 600 000 tonnes per annum.

    “But next year, we will increase to 2,5 million tonnes and the following year, it will be 3 million tonnes of coal per annum,” he said.

    Eng Mutiti added that next year, the company will introduce high-tech mining equipment that will produce approximately 210 000 tonnes per annum from one mining area.

    “The good thing about this mining method is that the extraction is very good at around 90 percent of extraction and we will also be mining the whole 10-metre seam that we have in Hwange and we will be separating coking coal and coal right from source.

    “We will be having two conveyor belts coming from the mine, bringing the coal out to the surface. From there, the coal will be conveyed by a conveyor belt that is currently under construction to a coal washing plant, where the coal will be washed.

    “After the washing plant, the coal will be delivered to the coke ovens, where the coal will be converted from coal into coke,” he said.

    Eng Mutiti noted that during that process, the coke oven gases produced will be used to fire a power station that the company will be constructing.

    The production capacity of that power station is 120 megawatts. Over and above that, we are also going to build two generating units producing 150 megawatts each.

    The combined production of the power station will be 420 megawatts

    “The project for the coke ovens will take about two to three years from now and for the power plant, about three to five years from now.

    Minister Chitando said the joint venture was put in place to unlock the underground potential for HCCL and will be the biggest underground mine in Zimbabwe.

    “Initially, this is supporting the resuscitation of the Hwange Colliery coke oven battery, which will be producing 18 000 tonnes of coke per annum. The joint venture company between Hwange and the partner is a starting foundation of a staggering 1,8 million tonnes of coke per annum. This is in fulfilment of His Excellency’s vision of growing the economy by 2030,” he said. —Herald

  • Invictus to lead Zim Energies Summit on Gas

    THE Government and Australian investor, Invictus Energy, will partner to lead the session: “Invest in Zimbabwe Energies Closed Door Summit” at the African Energy Week (AEW) slated for September 29 to October 3, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa.

    The session is expected to provide a strategic opportunity for investors, project developers and global partners to gain direct insight into the country’s energy and mining sectors, according to organisers.

    As one of Africa’s oil and gas frontiers and one of the continent’s biggest mineral producers, Zimbabwe offers significant opportunities for companies across both the natural and mineral resource sectors.

    “Strong political will and an improved business have strengthened the country’s attractiveness for foreign investment, while Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa’s position as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community in 2025 reflects a commitment to working with regional partners to advance economic development”, the African Energy Chamber, the organisers of the conference, said in a statement issued on Friday.

    “The ‘Invest in Zimbabwe Energies Summit’ builds on these efforts, offering a platform for global investors to connect with Zimbabwean projects.

    “Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy.”

    While Zimbabwe’s energy matrix has been dominated by hydropower, forays into natural gas exploration show the promise of a diversified energy portfolio.

    The country has emerged as one of Africa’s top frontier gas markets in recent years, with ongoing drilling activities led by Invictus Energy yielding positive results, said the agency.

    It noted how Invictus Energy was advancing the development of the Cabora Bassa Project in northern Zimbabwe — one of the world’s largest untested frontier rift basins — following a string of discoveries made in 2023 and 2024.

    The Government is currently the Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement with Invictus Energy and has recently provided National Project Status to the Cabora Bassa development.

    As an Australian oil and gas company focused on the Cabora Bassa Project, Invictus Energy is leading Zimbabwe’s gas agenda having secured the green light in 2025 to begin pilot production activities in the country, including supplying gas to the Eureka Gold Mine.

    This not only underscores the potential for gas utilisation in the country but reflects opportunities for cross-sector development, said the agency.

    Looking ahead, Invictus Energy is preparing to drill its next exploration well at the Musuma-1 site in H2, 2025, backed by an agreement signed with Al Mansour Holdings (AMH).

    Beyond natural gas, Zimbabwe continues to cement its position as an emerging energy producer, with projects in coal production, renewable energy development and power infrastructure set to enhance energy access and security.

    Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is consolidating its position as a leading mineral producer, with the anticipated restructuring of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill supporting mining activities. As one of Africa’s largest lithium producer, the country has already begun to play a central role in global supply chains and is poised to be a driver for Africa’s energy transition.

    Zimbabwe is also emerging as a front-runner in gold and platinum group metal production. Striving to reach 40 tons in gold production in 2025, the country is inviting investments across the gold value chain.

    The Invest in Zimbabwe Energies Summit is expected to serve as a vehicle for this investment.

    “Zimbabwe is positioning itself as one of Africa’s most exciting frontiers for both energy and mining investment. The country’s emerging natural gas potential, combined with its vast mineral wealth, creates opportunities that few markets can rival.

    “Strong political will, regulatory reform and a commitment to regional integration make Zimbabwe an attractive destination for capital. Investors who move now will be well-placed to benefit from the country’s transformation into a diversified energy and mining powerhouse,” says NJ Ayuk, executive chairman, African Energy Chamber.—Herald

  • Angola to polish most diamonds locally by 2027

    Angola plans to polish most of the diamonds it produces domestically by 2027 to boost revenue and create more jobs in the sector.

    New polishing and cutting facilities are being built in hubs such as Saurimo, where most gems are mined, state-owned diamond company Endiama board member Laureano Receado said on Thursday.

    “We are building capacity so that most of Angola’s production is polished in Angola,” Receado said in comments broadcast on state-run RNA radio station.

    Angola, Africa’s second largest diamond producer, currently exports most of its rough stones to the United Arab Emirates and Belgium, according to Endiama.

    The country’s output is forecast to reach at least 17 million carats a year by 2027 from about 14 million today, with new mines such as Luele expected to push production even higher, Receado said.

    Angola holds an estimated 800 million carats in reserves, enough to sustain output for decades.

    Top diamond producers across Africa are seeking to bolster the revenues they get from the gems to compensate for lower demand due to competition from lab-grown synthetic stones and weaker Chinese consumption. — Bloomberg

  • Mining giant awakens: A story of value, vision and national renewal

    Across the rolling hills of Bikita, a new Zimbabwean story is being written. As heavy machinery hums and trucks carry the weight of transformation, our country is moving beyond mere extraction to empowerment and beyond raw exports to refined value. Endowed with world-class critical mineral reserves, Zimbabwe is boldly redefining its place in the global minerals value chain.

    Zimbabwe is on the rise, and at the heart of this resurgence is the Government’s deliberate, future-focused policy shift. The aim is to ensure that the benefits of our mineral wealth are not only realised abroad but also felt at home by our people, communities and economy. In this regard, the Government’s 2022 decision to restrict the export of unprocessed lithium stands out as a milestone. It was not just a policy action but a declaration of intent: Zimbabwe will not be a simple source of raw materials but a centre for beneficiation, industrialisation and innovation.

    In line with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), Zimbabwe has committed to building a modern, diversified and industrialised economy. Critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and graphite are central to this agenda. With global demand for these minerals soaring due to the energy transition and the growth of electric vehicles, Zimbabwe has moved decisively to harness this opportunity.

    The Government’s ban on raw lithium exports in 2022 has already yielded positive results. Several investors have responded to the policy by establishing processing plants within Zimbabwe’s borders. Projects such as the Sandawana Lithium concentrator in Mberengwa, the Arcadia Lithium Project near Goromonzi, and expansions at Bikita Minerals clearly show that beneficiation is no longer just aspirational — it is operational.

    These investments have created over 5 000 jobs, increased foreign currency inflows, and contributed to export earnings, with lithium exports rising from US$70 million in 2022 to over US$600 million in 2023. This is the outcome of a consistent policy environment underpinned by the Government’s resolve to promote inclusive economic growth.

    With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opening new doors for intra-African trade, Zimbabwe is well-positioned to become a regional hub for processing battery minerals. Through this, the Government is ensuring that critical minerals are not just a tool for exports but also a catalyst for deeper industrialisation across the continent.

    Globally, Zimbabwe is engaging with partners from the EU, China, and the UAE to structure mutually beneficial investment agreements that align with national priorities and development goals. The recently launched “Zimbabwe Is Open for Business” investor campaign continues to attract responsible, long-term capital into mining and downstream industries.

    This commitment will be showcased globally at the Africa Down Under (ADU) Conference in Perth, Australia, a premier mining and investment event that connects African mineral-rich countries with international investors, technical experts, and financial institutions. Zimbabwe’s presence at ADU 2025 will be led by senior Government officials, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (Zida), and key players from both the public and private mining sectors.

    The Zimbabwean delegation will use the platform to highlight ongoing reforms in the mining sector, investment-ready projects, and the country’s growing role as a reliable and strategic supplier of critical minerals. Special emphasis will be placed on the lithium value chain, the introduction of the Green Mining Charter, and the various incentives available to investors through the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) framework.

    Zimbabwe’s participation in ADU is more than a promotional campaign; it is part of its broader economic diplomacy strategy. It reflects our readiness to engage meaningfully with the international mining community while safeguarding our national interests. By positioning Zimbabwe as a destination of choice for responsible investment, the ADU offers an opportunity to consolidate partnerships, secure capital, and reinforce the message that Zimbabwe is open for business and prepared to lead on value-addition, beneficiation and sustainable development.

    In every forum, every engagement and every handshake, Zimbabwe is taking control of its narrative, showing that this is not a resource story alone, but a nation-building story. A story of growth, innovation and shared prosperity.

    The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency will participate at the Africa Down Under Conference as part of a whole-of-Government approach, working alongside both Government and private sector to showcase Zimbabwe’s mining and energy opportunities and highlight the country’s investment potential.—Zimpapers