By Bisola Adeyemo
Tanzania Minister for Minerals, Mr Dotto Biteko, said Kiwira Coal Mine in Mbeya Region will commence mass production of coal of 50,000 tonnes per month starting March, this year.
Biteko disclosed this on Monday in Parliament meeting, added that rehabilitation of infrastructures at the Kiwira Coal Mine Project in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region has reached 98 percent.
The project according to the minister is expected to strengthen the production and supply of coal and power in the country.
He further said that the Kiwira Coal Mine Project will be able to produce 200Megawatss and thus help bolster power supply in the country.
Another step which has been taken is to initiate cooperation between STAMICO and the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) who works in synergy to facilitate operation of the mine.
On this, the State Mining Corporation ( STAMICO) will be responsible for producing coal for the Power Plant and while the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) will be there for the construction of the power plant and its supportive infrastructures.
The minister further said that TANESCO will also be responsible for producing power and supplying it to people by constructing a 100km power line from the mine.
“Currently the mine is progressing with the extraction of coal for industrial use in the Kabulo area. The coal is also sold in various cement factories in the country,” he said.
Biteko assured that all the former workers who were laid off in the Mine in 2013 will be paid as the government had completed the verification exercise.
“All former employees with the Kiwira Coal Mine will be paid their dues and the government through the ministry of Finance and Planning has already assessed the debts before starting issuing the payments,” he said.