The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo Senior Business Reporter
CONSTRUCTION of the first phase of the estimated $3 million Zimbabwe China Shanxi Taixing Company state-of-the-art coke oven plant in Hwange is nearing completion with commissioning expected by end of this month.
The company’s project manager, Mr Steven Lee, said trial runs at the plant had started and were pointing to a successful project.
About $1,5 million has been invested in phase one of the project.
“This plant has 28 modern ovens using the latest technology. Each oven has the capacity to produce 80 tonnes of coke a day. It is environmentally friendly as it doesn’t allow much smoke to be emitted into the air.
“Currently we as part of our trial runs are producing foundry coke, peas and nuts and we expect to officially commission the plant by end of this month,” Mr Steven said.
He said for the first phase the company would employ 150 workers most of whom would be drawn from nearby communities.
“We will employ 150 workers for the first phase and most of the workforce will be drawn from the surrounding communities, which we are operating from.
“We will be purchasing coal from surrounding mines and have already made arrangements with Makomo Resources and Hwange Colliery Company,” Mr Steven said.
He said the coke produced from the plant was largely meant for the export market with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia the preferred destinations.
Zimbabwe-China Shanxi Taixing Company is a joint-venture between the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and a Chinese firm, Shanxi Taixing.
The company was allocated 20 hectares in Hwange’s Change area by the local authority to set up a coke oven plant two years ago and started construction work in April last year.
Shanxi Taixing is one of the most reputable coke and power generating companies in China.
Hwange Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Phindile Ncube said the project was set to immensely contribute to the economic growth of the district and the entire Matabeleland North Province.
“The coke oven project will be of paramount importance to us as a local authority as it will increase our revenue collection base through the rates we will get from the company of which we will use to improve the district’s infrastructure.
“In terms of employment, it will also play a major role, as we speak 95 percent of the workforce involved in the first phase of the project are locals. We are also likely to see the company contributing a lot as part of its corporate social responsibility,” Mr Ncube said.
He said the coke oven plant was expected to be officially opened by President Mugabe.
Zimbabwe-China Shanxi Taixing’s coke oven plant with the capacity to produce more than 12 000 tonnes of coke a month becomes the second biggest plant in the country after HCCL’s, which produces 18 000 per month.
The other coke producers Hwange Coal and Gasification and South Mining Company produce 10 000 and 9 000 tonnes per month respectively.
