Business Reporter
MAKOMO Resources is looking at new potential markets in the southern African region after the coal miner commissioned its coal washing machine about two months ago.
“We have already started exporting washed peas in Zambia and we are looking at the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique,” an official said.
Makomo raised its production capacity from about 200 000 tonnes per month to 300 000 tonnes following the commissioning of the new washing plant.
Prior to the commissioning of the plant, Makomo Resources was mainly producing power coal.
The coal washing plant is a machine that removes impurities from coal which is graded into different sizes.
The official said broadening of the markets was the company’s future growth strategy.
Makomo has since overtaken Hwange Colliery Company Limited as the country’s largest coal producer.
Makomo invested $14 million in the coal beneficiation plant. Domestic beneficiation is in line with Zim-Asset, Government’s economic blueprint for 2013 to 2018 that aims to achieve sustainable development and social equity on the back of judicious exploitation of the country’s abundant human and natural resources.
Makomo, which started mining operations five years ago has since formed a joint venture with Southern Energy, a Mauritius based company to build a 660 megawatt thermal plant.
Civil works are set to begin during the first quarter next year while the project will take two years to complete from the time of commencement.
The power generated will be fed directly into the national grid while the excess will be exported.
Once completed, the project, to be located in the Hwange coal fields, is set to become the largest investment into the energy sector and one of the largest in the country.