Zimbabwe and coal
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Zimbabwe is a small coal producer and consumer. In 2019, it produced 2.3 million tonnes.
Coal Resources
Zimbabwe Geological Survey reports that the country "has vast high grade coal deposits occurring as fossilized carbon. It occurs in lower Karoo sediments. These are the middle Zambezi basin to the north and save Limpopo basin in the south." Business research and consulting firm Frost and Sullivan reports that Zimbabwe has coal reserves that will approximately last the next 200 years at a production output of 5,000 tons per annum, with the coal reserves "being suitable for providing feedstock for coal-powered thermal power stations."[1]
Resources Details
| Category | Reserve Classification | Quantity | Units | Data Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGR Estimate | Reserves | 502[2] | million tonnes | 2019 |
| BGR Estimate | Resources | 25,000[2] | million tonnes | 2019 |
| Geological Survey | Reserves | - | million tonnes | |
| Geological Survey | Resources | 12,000[3] | million tonnes | |
| Commercial Reporting | Reserves | million tonnes | ||
| Commercial Reporting | Resources | million tonnes |
Coal Production
In 2011 it was announced that Zimbabwe, which currently imports virtually all of its oil needs, averaging roughly 14,000 barrels per day, is seeking to expand its indigenous energy resources, particularly coal.
In Sep. 2011, Obert Mpofu of Zimbabwe Mines and Mining Development Minister said that the country had awarded 20 licenses for coal exploration and mining. The five firms awarded licenses were Makomo Investments, WK Blasting, Clidder, Apex and Liberation Mining. The majority of the 20 companies receiving prospecting licenses are joint ventures with Zimbabwean partners. In addition, the Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Commission recently licensed 13 independent power projects.
Proposed coal mines
Coal mining companies
Coal Consumption
Proposed coal plants
China's Guangdong Bureau of Coal Geology plans to invest $3.5 billion to build a 1,200 megawatt thermal power plant in Zimbabwe, according to September 2012 media reports. The company said its proposed budget "is about $3.5 billion for a 120 million watt plant." In July 2012, Energy Minister Elton Mangoma told parliament that China Railway International, a subsidiary of China Railway Group and Zimbabwe's state power utility ZESA were planning to jointly run a coal mine that would supply a proposed 1,000 MW thermal power station.[4]
The Zimbabwe Energy Minister has stated that a French consortium had been granted a licence to build a 2,000 MW thermal power plant in Zimbabwe for US$3 billion.[4]
In September 2015 Sable Mining announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding with Citic Construction for the development of a 600 MW Lubu power station power station based on its early stage exploration project, the Lubu Coal Project.[5]
Articles and Resources
Sources
- ↑ "Zimbabwe government issues 20 coal exploration licenses" Steel Guru, Sep. 28, 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 BGR Energy Study 2019 - Data and Developments in German and Global Energy Supplies (23), Hannover: Germany, 2019.
- ↑ Zimbabwe Geological Survey, accessed June 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nelson Banya, "Chinese firm plans $3.5 bln Zimbabwe power plant -report," Reuters, Sep. 18, 2012.
- ↑ Sable Mining, "MoU on Zimbabwean Coal Power Station Development", Media Release, September 21, 2015.
External resources
- Paul Baruya and John Kessels, Coal Prospects in Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia, International Energy Agency Clean Coal Centre, December 2013. (Pdf) (This report is available for free to residents of member countries. You can register here.)
