malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
A LOCAL company, Centragale (Pvt) Limited, has applied to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority to construct and run a 100-megawatt wind farm that will supply power to the Dinson lron and Steel Company plant under construction in Manhize.
Chinese engineers are currently working on the latter stages of the US$1,5 billion plant, which is now 70 percent complete.
The mega project will see the country saving almost 90 percent in steel imports.
Dinson project manager Mr Wilfred Motsi said: “We have batches of engineers who come into the country now and again for the construction of the super infrastructure.
“We are expecting mechanical engineers to come and do their part, with electrical engineers also expected to do their part.
“Afterwards, another batch will then come to do the test run.”
Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando recently handed over a mining lease to Dinson, which is a subsidiary of Tsingshan Holdings, the world’s largest stainless steel producer.
Speaking during the handover of the mining lease, Dinson managing director Mr Benson Xu said the project was within set timelines.
“We have completed about 70 percent of the total project. I can assure you that we can move much faster to complete the target we have set.
“We have completed the foundation of the critical equipment, now we are busy with the installation of the equipment, and most of the equipment has come through already,” he said.
Manhize is set to be Africa’s biggest integrated steel plant, whose first blast furnace is expected to be switched on at the end of September.
The ongoing project is seen as a significant step towards the country’s drive to modernise and industrialise.
Online Reporter