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Coal miner, Hwange Colliery Company (HCC) on Sunday said it is looking for partners with financial capacity to exploit untapped coal bed methane gas.

HCC holds a 4 200 hectare coal bed methane concession in Lubimbi East, which is located about 245 kilometres north of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city.

HCC said the interested partner was expected to provide funding for coal bed methane gas drilling and testing, full feasibility studies and a coal bed methane gas processing and beneficiation plant.

“Tenders are invited from suitably qualified and interested bidders with technical and financial capacity to carry out development and beneficiation of coal bed methane resources,” the company said in a tender notice.

“Hwange Colliery will be responsible for the Environmental Impact Assessment.”

Through exploitation of coal-bed methane gas, analysts contend Zimbabwe could turn from a net importer of fertilisers to a net exporter, which would help preserve hard currency.

Coal-bed methane gas is used to produce hydrogen, which in turn is used in the manufacture of fertiliser.

Meanwhile, HCC also invited bids for one million tonnes of coal fines dumps, which can be used to fire boilers and generate electricity.

“Bidders should demonstrate their financial and technical capability to finance the purchase of the coal dumps and to construct a beneficiation plant such as a power plant. They will do their own Environmental Impact Assessment and obtain authority approvals and licensing for their proposed plant,” said the company.

“The power plant or beneficiation plant may be located on HCCL’s concession area or the most appropriate location as guided by the investor and market.” — New Ziana.