Message Mar 7 Fév 2012 08:52

We have projected to sell between 100,000 and 120,000 tonnes

Maamba Collieries commences coal sales



By KALONDE NYATI
MAAMBA Collieries Limited has commenced coal sales with projected sales of 270,000 tonnes of high-grade coal this year amounting to about US$23 million.
The firm, which is under new management following the acquisition of 65 percent shares by Nava Bharat of Singapore in 2010, will from April this year sell 30,000 tonnes of coal per month on the local market.
Maamba Collieries head of corporate affairs Janardhan Lavu said the firm is also finalising enquiries from firms including Universal Mining and Chemical Industries Limited, Zambezi Portland Cement and Dangote Cement.
Mr Lavu said this in an interview on Thursday in Lusaka.
“Maamba Collieries has been receiving a lot of enquires and the time has come to commence the movement of coal on executed orders,” he said.
He said the firm is also eyeing regional markets with initial exports of 10,000 tonnes per month.
“We are also targeting Congo DR, Namibia and Malawi and we expect to export 10,000 tonnes of high-grade coal per month this year. We exported 4,000 tonnes of coal to Congo DR last year and will export more depending on the demand,” he said.
Mr Lavu said plans are underway to sell over one million tonnes of washed coal in 2014.
We have projected to sell 70,000 tonnes monthly next year and between 100,000 and 120,000 tonnes in 2014,” he said.
Mr Lavu said Maamba Collieries has the capacity to sell about 120,000 tonnes of washed coal per month but this capacity is dependent on the demand.
He, however, said the demand for coal is currently high, adding that Universal Mining and Chemical Industries Limited alone are expected to procure about 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes per month.