Coal in Zimbabwe past, present and future

Abstract

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country with relatively well established infrastructure serving established mining, agricultural and manufacturing industries. For such sophistication power and fuel are pre-requisites and Zimbabwe is blessed with ample coal reserves which to date have only been exploited at on colliery, Wankie. Coal-bearing sediments are restricted to rocks of the Lower Karoo System of Permian age and the coals are of typical Gondwanaland-type. Sedimentation as controlled in fault-bounded basins related to the East African rift system. The Cola Price Agreement, signed annually, guarantees a fair return on all capital employed by the Wankie Colliery Company. Government now has a controlling shareholding in the colliery. Revocation of the Wankie Coalfield Act in November 1979 and the gaining of Zimbabwe Independence encouraged renewed interest in the country's coal potential.