The New Owners of Maamba Coal Mine, Nava Bharat Limited will construct a 270 mega watts thermo power station at the cost of US$ 420 million. Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Maxwell Mwale told Parliament in a ministerial statement today that the thermo power station will be commissioned in 2014.
He said Nava Bharat Limited has since started negotiations with the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) over the power purchase agreement in which the company wants to be selling power to ZESCO.
Mr. Mwale also disclosed that Maamba Collieries Limited will begin the production of coal in November this year. He said the company is currently undergoing different rehabilitation works in readiness for resumption of operations.
He revealed that about US$ 93 million will be needed for recapitalisation of the company
Mr. Mwale said once operational the company will produce 360,000 tonnes of coal by 2011 while it will increase its production to over 1 million when it starts producing at its peak for both market and the power plant.
He said the company has total coal reserves of 78.2 million tonnes of reserves and a life span of over 70 years. Mr. Mwale said over 750 people will be employed at the mine out of which 380 will be employed at the thermo power station.
Nava Bharat last year acquired 65 percent equity in Maamba Coal Mine while ZCCM –IH holds 35 percent shares.
ZANIS
When i hear thermal power station it remains me of Northwestern which has many of them which every time there is election the government talks about bring hydro power since idependence that has been the language. we are talking about pollution but we bring more power system whchi pollute more. Zambian let us wake up.
A coal-fired power station? Give me a break
yes we need it…you know its cheaper to creat a power station where you need electricity..its expensive to make a grid from kaliba north bank from southen province..i welcome that move 100%
yes we need it…you know its cheaper to creat a power station where you need electricity..its expensive to make a grid from kaliba north bank from southen province..i welcome that move 100%…for real
This is a positive move by NAVA Bharat blogs this thing of pollution is all about western countries not developing countries. we had more companies in UNIP and we were not polluted. I now challenge those Chines to leave Maamba for Nava Bharat. We want Good Employments,Good money for Good life.