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Fungai Lupande, Mashonaland Central Bureau
A company producing water treatment chemicals, Chilmund Chemicals, plans to establish a sulphuric acid plant to replace imports as part of its contribution to the country’s industrialisation drive.
Sulphuric acid is a key raw material for producing aluminium sulphate, one of the essential water treatment chemicals.
The development is expected to reduce the need to import raw materials.
Chilmund Chemicals was launched last year by President Mnangagwa. It has a production capacity of 6 000 tonnes a month for both granular and liquid aluminium sulphate, exceeding the local demand of at least 2 000 tonnes.
The company has also invested in a modern laboratory to test each batch of their production.
It has since secured a contract to supply water treatment chemicals to Mozambique.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, who toured the plant yesterday, highlighted the importance of setting up the sulphuric acid plant in Mashonaland Central due to the province’s low levels of manufacturing.
“This will be one of the pull factors in investment in value addition. This is a mining and agriculture province with limited value addition of the minerals,” he said. “This water treatment plant is a first of its kind in Africa and we are proud that it is an investment by Zimbabweans. Within a year, the company expanded its market base.”
Minister Ndlovu emphasised the need to support local manufacturers, rather than importing water treatment chemicals.
His tour of Chilmund Chemicals came after the approval of the industrial reconstruction and growth plan to address key bottlenecks slowing down the growth of industries and come up with a robust industrialisation policy aligned with national development policies, principally the National Development Strategy 1 and Vision 2030.
Government remained committed to addressing cost drivers and improving the ease of doing business for the country to become competitive in the region, said Minister Ndlovu.
Regarding the import of poor-quality products, the Minister said Government was intensifying import substitution and mechanisms to restore order. He emphasised the need to protect local industries, as Zimbabwe is an attractive destination for manufacturers worldwide.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Zimbabwe is second to Ivory Coast in its potential to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area, through adding value to raw materials and increasing primary production.
Chilmund’s business development manager Mr Nicholas Bhero said the firm started manufacturing on June 1 last year and was expanding exponentially.
The company actively participated in setting standards for aluminium sulphate in collaboration with the Standards Association of Zimbabwe.
It initially supplied to one local authority but now supplies water treatment chemicals to almost all councils in Zimbabwe. The company has 180 permanent workers.
“Chilmund Chemicals is targeting the export market and has made inroads in Mozambique. Our immediate plan is to manufacture raw materials, and the allocation of the land for the sulphuric acid plant is at an advanced stage,” said Mr Bhero.
He appreciated authorities saying the industrialisation revolution in Zimbabwe is Government-enabled and private-sector driven.
Mashonaland Central Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Timothy Maregere commended Chilmund Chemicals for its progress and commitment to industrialisation and sustainable economic transformation.
He noted that the company had created job opportunities for locals and significantly contributed to economic growth.
Mr Maregere said accessing clean water daily is important for achieving Vision 2030 of an upper-middle income society, saying it lays the groundwork for improved public health, boosts productivity and fosters economic growth.
Online Reporter