admin
Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
GWERU-based cement manufacturer, Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company (SZCC) is set to introduce a new product — ordinary Portland Cement Formula (42,5) — on the market beginning January next year. SZCC already has Masonry Cement (22,5) that is used for masonry work, brick, mortar, plastering and general building.
It also has Portland Composite (32,5) cement.
The new ordinary Portland Cement Formula (42,5) would possess high strength qualities and would be used in the construction of tall structures as well as bridges.
The new developments come on the back of a refurbishment exercise undertaken by the company, which is expected to boost production to 450,000 tonnes per annum from 250,000 once the three-phased expansion programme is completed.
Wang Yong, SZCC managing director said prospects for an economic boom in the country have necessitated the introduction of a new product on the market, which, for now, is only being offered by Bulawayo based cement concern, Pretoria Portland Cement.
“We’re now in the second phase of our expansion programme, which on completion is expected to cost $4 million while the third phase will be around $6 million and will start by the beginning of next year.
“We’ll take the product to the Standards Association of Zimbabwe towards the end of the year to get approval. The product should be out at the beginning of next year in January,” he said.
Under the second phase of the expansion project two more silos have been built to increase the carrying capacity as well as two loading bays, which are expected to be completed at the end of this month.
The company, a joint venture between the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and China Building Materials Corporation (CBMC) completed the first $4.1 million phase upgrade in 2013 which, included the refurbishment of the cement mill, the refurbishment of the rotary kiln as well as upgrading, renewing and automating ancillary equipment.
Online Reporter