The only coal mine currently operating in Mozambique’s western province of Tete, Minas de Moatize, in 2010 mined just 22,000 tonnes of coal - less than half the target set of 48,000 tonnes for the year.The Governor of Tete, Alberto Vaquina, told Radio Mozambique that this was still 20 per cent higher than the previous year.Whereas the gigantic coal projects planned for Tete by the Brazilian company Vale, and Riversdale Mining of Australia, involve open cast mining, and exporting millions of tonnes largely to markets in Asia, Minas de Moatize is a small underground mine, producing coal for the domestic and regional market.
Nonetheless, Minas de Moatize has the potential to generate an annual income of around 250 million US dollars.In May 2010, Minas de Moatize was acquired by the British company Beacon Hill Resources plc. Since the acquisition of the company, the new owner has concentrated its operations on refurbishing the existing underground mine. The aim is to process coal from this underground mine and from an eventual opencast pit to produce thermal coal for local African markets.As part of these plans, funds have also gone into developing the facility to wash the coal to produce export grade thermal and coking coal.Currently Minas Moatize is mining over 8,000 tonnes of coal a month, up from 2,000 tonnes a month prior to Beacon Hill taking control. Beacon Hill expects that developments will increase production by an additional 120,000 tonnes by the end of 2011. The company hopes that the open pit mine will begin production in the first quarter of 2012, and produce 2.36 million tonnes of saleable coal a year.Current estimates indicate the existence of a deposit of 33 million tonnes of coal in the Minas de Moatize concession.
Nonetheless, Minas de Moatize has the potential to generate an annual income of around 250 million US dollars.In May 2010, Minas de Moatize was acquired by the British company Beacon Hill Resources plc. Since the acquisition of the company, the new owner has concentrated its operations on refurbishing the existing underground mine. The aim is to process coal from this underground mine and from an eventual opencast pit to produce thermal coal for local African markets.As part of these plans, funds have also gone into developing the facility to wash the coal to produce export grade thermal and coking coal.Currently Minas Moatize is mining over 8,000 tonnes of coal a month, up from 2,000 tonnes a month prior to Beacon Hill taking control. Beacon Hill expects that developments will increase production by an additional 120,000 tonnes by the end of 2011. The company hopes that the open pit mine will begin production in the first quarter of 2012, and produce 2.36 million tonnes of saleable coal a year.Current estimates indicate the existence of a deposit of 33 million tonnes of coal in the Minas de Moatize concession.
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