adminHarare Bureau
Cement manufacturer, Sino-Zimbabwe Cement Company has commenced the first phase of upgrading and refurbishing its Gweru factory.
According to the company, this phase, which is being undertaken on the cement mill and rotary kiln, is expected to be completed by end of year and is set to increase the clinker production capacity up to 200 000 tonnes per year which in turn will significantly increase cement output.
The second phase will target upgrade of warehousing and storage facilities and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of this year as well, while the third and final phase will be completed next year.
The company expects this refurbishment exercise to go a long way in improving their capacity and efficiency to produce as production output is expected to double while they will also improve on cost control, throughput and output per hour and subsequently a competitive price for cement to customers.
“We are upgrading the capacity and efficiency of our cement mill so as to meet growing local and regional demand.
“The cement mill will be modernised with third generation technology which will immensely improve our efficiency and quality of product milled, this technology is also the first of its kind in Zimbabwe,” the company said in a statement.
The company also added that this plant upgrade programme will also translate into improvement on delivery turnaround times as there would be a great reduction in waiting time and queuing.
Sino-Zimbabwe Cement Company is the product of a joint business venture between a Chinese Foreign Direct Investment partner, China Building Material Industrial Corporation for Foreign Econo-Technical Co-operation (CBMC) and the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe Limited (IDC) .
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo