Story by Tichaona Kurewa
PLANS are now at an advanced stage for coal production to start at Lubu Coal Project in Binga, which is confirmation that Zimbabwe is indeed open for business.
The London Stock Exchange-listed Contango Holdings is developing the Lubu Coal Project which includes mining, coke and coking coal production.
Updating stakeholders through their Twitter handle, Contango Holdings Chief Executive Officer, Mr Carl Esprey said the company has now completed several key activities concerning commencing production at Lubu.
These include the completion of grade control drilling, pollution control dam and 600 000 litre settling ponds.
Mr Esprey also highlighted that the company has successfully removed overburden enabling access to the targeted coking coal seam and connected power to key infrastructure on site, including the wash plant and laboratories.
This week, the company indicated that it will connect its fully refurbished 600 tonnes-per-hour screen to the wash plant, which is the final equipment requiring installation ahead of the first production of coking coal from next week.
The coal project, which is also demonstrating the effectiveness of the Second Republic’s engagement and re-engagement drive is expected to transform Binga in terms of job creation and upgrading of critical infrastructure such as roads, schools and health centres.
Under the US$12 billion mining roadmap, iron, steel, diamonds and coal will contribute US$ 1 billion.
