By Rex Mphisa
THE US$3.6 billion Palm River Energy Metallurgical Special Economic Zone in Beitbridge is migrating to green energy and has started using electric tippers as it shifts from diesel powered machinery on its plant just outside Beitbridge town.
The plant over 5100-hectare industrial park looks certain to be the pioneering concern that will use electric long distance buses for its workforce, most of whom are resident in Beitbridge town about 25 kilometres from their site.
Announcing future plans already in phases of implementation in an interview with Ziyah News Network at the weekend, Xian Li, the human resources executive of Palm River Energy Metallurgical Special Econonic Zone, commonly called Xintai by locals, said existing transport modes for workers are temporary.
“We are aware of the feelings of the people about our trucks that carry our workforce but that is about to change. We are not buying diesel buses. We are going green and will soon have electric buses to carry our workforce. We have passed the 1 000 mark of employment figures and will require many buses and these will all be electric,” said Li.
“We are a relatively new company not here to harvest, we are here to invest instead and people should expect a steady fast step by step approach. We are going to leave a mark in Beitbridge,” he said.
“Electric buses need a good road surface and we expect to have these as soon as the roads are fixed. The electric buses are low vehicles and require good road surfaces. As soon as the roads to the mines are fixed people will see fleets of electrical buses,” Li said.
The mandate to fix the road rests with the local authorities together with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development.
The current state of the labour force at Xintai requires at least 20 buses and that was expensive as compared to smart electric alternatives, he said.
“Long term plans do not occur overnight. We are here for a long time together with the population of Beitbridge. We will grow with them in this huge investment. In the next few years Beitbridge will experience some high standards development form this investment we 3xpect the people to grow with,” Li said.
Xintai was launched in February 2025 by Xintai Resources and Tuli Coal and is a 12-year project focusing on mineral value addition, including a 1-million-tonne coke plant and 1,200 MW power plant, aimed at industrialising the region.
Located west of Beitbridge town, the project operates on 5,100 hectares, serving as a major economic driver for the province and Zimbabwe at large.
The project opened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa is planned over 12 years in five phases, with the first phase costing US$237 million to be completed by 2027.
It is expected to yield a yearly production capacity of 1 million tonnes of coke and a projected production of 100,000 tonnes of high-carbon ferrochrome, increasing to 200,000 tonnes, facilitating stainless steel production.
The plant has a 1200 MW coal-fired and green energy power plant to support the park and national grid.
The venture is a partnership involving Xintai Resources (part of Shanxi Xinganglian Holding Group) and Tuli and has already had its economic impact in Beitbridge where over a 1 00O of the projected 10 000 jobs have been created.
“As we grow we will have several projects together with the population of Beitbridge,” said Li.
“At the moment we are buying most of our fresh food from Beitbridge farmers including those in the communal areas. We will continue to support local people by buying all locally available resources we need from them,” he said.
He asked farmers to reasonable price their products for maximum support.