Mining
Malawi coal miners failing to meet soaring demand
May 09, 2024 / Tawonga Nyirenda Mayuni
Coal miners in Malawi are finding it difficult to meet the high demand for coal in the country due to operational challenges.
Mining & Trade Review has established that demand for coal has skyrocketed in Malawi due to foreign exchange shortages which are forcing consumers to buy locally.
MD for Rukuru Coal Mining Bruno Kloser, whose company runs Chombe Coal Mine at Chiweta in Rumphi District, said due to the rising demand for coal, his company is working on increasing production at the mine.
Kloser said currently the mine is not able to meet the demand from customers as there is need for installation of additional equipment to increase rate of production.
He said: “We are not able to meet the demand at the moment as production does not just increase overnight so we need to get the equipment and staff.”
MD for DDY Coal mine David Nyirenda admitted that there is high demand for coal because there is no competition with imported coal as companies are finding it difficult to import coal due to forex shortages.
“There is demand for coal as we do not have competition from outside Malawi as companies are finding it hard to import coal due to scarcity of forex, however we are not able to meet the demand due to lack of working capital as local financial institutions are always reluctant to lend to the industry,” Nyirenda said.
Acting Mine Manager for Mchenga coal mine Assan Tembo said in a separate interview that Mchenga is working on meeting the demand from customers by opening other mining sites in its tenement area.
“This side we had heavy rains so we were not able to open other ore sites, but after the rains finish we will open other sites so that we are able to meet the demand,” he said
Tembo disclosed that in order to implement the expansion plans, the Company has mobilised additional equipment and is working on repairing a bulldozer.
The major consumers for coal in Malawi include the tobacco, brewery and cement industries.
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The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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Remediation:
The cleanup of the contaminated area to safe levels by removing or isolating contaminants. At mine sites, remediation often consists of isolating contaminated material in pre-existing tailings storage facilities, capping tailings and waste rock stockpiles with clean topsoil, and collecting and treating any contaminated mine water if necessary.
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