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Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
A CHEMICAL and explosive manufacturing company, Intrachem is set to start construction of an explosive manufacturing plant in Kwekwe, with the work expected to be completed by March next year, an official has said.
In an interview, Zibagwe Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Farayi Machaya said the company is expected to do a groundbreaking ceremony soon.
“Intrachem intends to erect a plant to manufacture explosives in Kwekwe. The company has already acquired machinery worth more than $2 million and more machinery is yet to be procured. The work is expected to commence soon just after the groundbreaking ceremony has been done,” he said.
Mr Machaya says the company expects to export some of the manufactured explosives.
“As a local authority we are very delighted because the company will export some of the explosives to increase generation of foreign currency into the country. We welcome the investment into the district as it creates employment and will obviously expand our revenue stream,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Machaya said preparations for the setting up of a 400MW photovoltaic plant, a joint venture by Tatanga Energy and Sable Chemicals are at an advanced stage. The solar pant which will be called Sable Solar Park, is expected to add an initial 50MW into the national grid.
“For now, Tatanga Energy has started environmental impact assessment processes. The project will be done on a 200 hectare piece of land,” he said.
Mr Machaya said council welcomes the move as it could benefit from the project.
“Like any other local authority, any investment that comes into the district is a plus in terms of revenue collection and development. So, we are looking forward to the commencement of the project,” he said.
The project is expected to be Zimbabwe’s largest grid-connected photovoltaic plant when it comes online.
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