Source: Coal miner Hwange to revive coke oven battery – DailyNews Live
Phillimon Mhlanga 5 March 2018
HARARE – Tri-listed coal miner, Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL),
has revived plans to construct a new coke oven battery, it has been
learnt.
HCCL, which is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and also trades its
shares on the London and Johannesburg stock markets, initially wanted to
construct the new coke oven battery using internal resources. This was
after it decommissioned the old coke oven battery four years ago after it
became too expensive to operate.
HCCL abandoned plans to construct a new coke oven battery last year due to
cash constraints.
This week, HCCL invited bids from companies interested in rebuilding the
coke oven battery.
“As part of its turnaround plan HCCL has seen it prudent to restore coke
oven battery and coke oven gas plant. Therefore HCCL invites bids for the
rebuild or complete new construction of a recovery type coke oven battery,
by-products plant and gas plant which includes a coke oven gas supply line
to Hwange Power Station and financing of the project.
“Bidders should demonstrate their capabilities to offer both a technical
and financial solution as a package or offer either a technical or
financial package only. All bidders are required to demonstrate their
capability to provide the required services and expertise and include
their track record in the funding/construction of a recovery type coke
oven battery or similar plant. Maintenance of the coke oven battery for a
period of 12 months can be offered as an option,” HCCL said in a statement
this week.
HCCL engaged Indian firm, Water and Power Services Consultants (WAPCOS),
to do a feasibility study to assess the cost of a complete refurbishment
of the old plant and construction of a new coke oven battery, which
produces high value coke used in smelting plants.
Results from the study confirmed that about $50 million was required to
construct a new coke oven battery. A similar amount was required for
refurbishment.
HCCL used to export coke to smelters in the Copperbelt, Zambia and the
Democratic Republic of Congo but stopped in 2014 because it was no longer
viable.
HCCL has been struggling over the years due to debts. As part of its
turnaround strategy, the company recently embarked in a scheme of
arrangement with its creditors and came up with a plan to liquidate the
debts but failed to honour its promise.
HCCL miners’ wives last month embarked on protests over unpaid salaries. –
The Financial Gazette
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