Page 11 - AfrElec Week 44 2022
P. 11
AfrElec COAL AfrElec
Zimbabwe’s president
sees mining sector driving
‘robust’ economic growth
ZIMBABWE ZIMBABWEAN President Emmerson Mnan- “We are set to emerge as a dynamic industrial
gagwa has said growing investment into the local hub churning out a wide range of ‘Made in Zim-
mining and metallurgy beneficiation sector will babwe’ goods and services. In the same vein, we
create tens of thousands of jobs and propel the have launched the Mapinga Industrial Energy
economy, a state-owned local daily reports. Hub investment worth over $13bn which will
Mnangagwa singled out a new $13bn indus- create over 25,000 jobs.”
trial energy park, whose memorandum of Mines and Mining Development Deputy
understanding (MoU) his government signed in Minister Polite Kambamura told The Herald that
September with two Chinese companies, Eagle under Phase I of the project, the Chinese firms
Canyon International Group and Pacific Goal will build two 300MW power stations, and a
Investment, according to The Herald. coking and lithium-processing plant.
The park, to be built on 5,000 hectares at “Sabi Star (lithium mine owned by China’s
Mapinga, in the west of Zimbabwe, will focus Chengxin Group) being one of them provid-
on lithium processing and create 25,000 jobs, he ing the key ingredients to the energy park that
said. The project will also see the construction of is lithium. Other supporting mines will provide
two 300MW power stations, and a coking plant. nickel and graphite which are key elements in
“New investments in the mining sector, lev- the production of the products from the park,”
eraging on our large reserves of chrome, lithium, Kambamura said.
iron, platinum, gold, diamonds, as well as the “Phase II of the park would entail con-
anticipated oil and gas discoveries, are leaping struction of value addition facilities whereby
forward our country,” Mnangagwa said, speak- lithium batteries and solar panels will be
ing at his ruling ZANU-PF congress held over manufactured.”
October 24-28.
Week 44 02•November•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P11
