Chinhoyi copper project set to provide 5000 jobs

by | Jul 15, 2021 | Business | 0 comments

Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa

Zimbabwe is moving a notch higher in its pursuit of the US$12 billion mining industry by 2023, through launching new projects set to operationalise the vision.

One such project is the Greater Chinhoyi Copper Development Programme.

The project was presented for consideration by Cabinet yesterday by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Wiston Chitando.

The Programme entails six copper projects becoming operational by 2023.

A further three projects are Greenfield projects which will have resource definition being undertaken with the objective of making them operational.

“The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will be submitting proposals in due course of the six projects, the re-treatment of the Mhangura and Alaska copper dumps which were previously approved by Cabinet whilst two new projects being the reopening of Angwa Mine in Chinhoyi and Shamrock mine in Hurungwe were approved by Cabinet.
Proposals on two other projects to make them a total of six will be presented in due course,” Minister Monica Mutsvangwa of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services told the media yesterday.

The two approved which will be joint ventures with Zimbabwe Mining Development Company (ZMDC) Govine Enterprises over Shamrock Mine in Hurungwe which will reopen by the end of 2022 employing an estimated 4 500 people and generating US$32 million per annum.

The other is Hongua International over Angwa mine and the Chidzikwe dump which will be operational by mid 2022 employing an estimated 400 people, generating an estimated US$33 million per annum.

Meanwhile, Minister Chitando reported that the refurbishment of the Eureka Gold Mine, Guruve, Mashonaland Central Province overall progress is at 94.4 percent.

Regarding the Construction of the Afrochine Dinson Colliery Plant for Coking Coal Production in Hwange, it was reported that the construction of the coking coal oven battery and the coking coal plant were both 100 percent complete.

The projects are among the compendium of projects which are ongoing being implemented by the New Dispensation. The project has created 300 jobs to date.

At the Bravura Platinum Exploration Project in Selous in Mashonaland West, procurement of equipment to carry out the drilling programme is now 90 percent complete.

Sampling of the economic horizon is now 45 percent complete.

The project has now employed 54 people from the surrounding communities and nearby towns.

Pertaining to the Unki Debottlenecking Project in Shurugwi, Midlands Province, the overall project progress is 62 percent complete.