Open Cast

About Open Cast

Opencast Mining Department is the heartbeat of Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) armed with a compliment of 241 employees. The department implements responsible mining practices through transparent, beneficial and profitable business partnerships with various stakeholders. Being at the centre of the mining operations, there is an outlook for an unprecedented business growth as the department has ventured into various strategic projects

The department operates two pits which both utilise the excavator and dump truck system in the stripping of overburden and the mining of the ‘black gold’. The two pits, JKL and the Chaba pit are respectively operated by HCCL and the contractor Zhong Jian (ZJI). The pits produce three types of coal, that is the thermal coal- HPS (Hwange Power Station), coking coal-HCC (Hwange Coking Coal) and the industrial coal- HIC (Hwange Industrial Coal) which is solely produced from the Chaba pit. The thermal coal which is essential for the nation’s power generation is supplied to power generation companies around the country, the major consumers being Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and Zimbabwe Zhongxin Electrical Energy (ZZEE). The coking and industrial coal produced by the department is sold locally and some is exported to other countries.

Opencast Mining activities involve bush clearing, drilling, blasting, overburden removal and coal mining all guided by survey and geological information. The Department has two major sections, the Drill & Blast and Production section which report directly to the Opencast Mine Manager. Opencast is also serviced by ancillary sections of Engineering, Human Resources and Stores. In compliance with the Integrated Business Management System (IBMS) environmental management standard- ISO 14001:2015, the department has an environmental responsibility of Land rehabilitation after mining. This involves dumping and profiling inert Overburden spoils using bulldozers to create a contoured final profile. At this stage the land would be considered ready for the re-vegetation exercise.

SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY

As part of the social responsibility initiative, the department participates in the following activities.
  • Assisting Pre Schools with empty drums and used tyres for construction of children’s play centres and litter bins
  • Assisting with rigging facilities whenever required on road and rail accidents in and around the town.
  • Educational tours to Schools, colleges, universities and interested individuals from all over the country and regi
  • Opencast Mining Department sponsors the best student science price for Wankie Secondary School
  • Assisting with fire wood from bush clearing operations for schools function, social clubs and bereaved families in the community

    • CURRENT PROJECTS

  • Chaba pit mining contracted to ZJI

    • Team

    No Team Information Provided.

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