Sino-Zim seeks $2m

Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
GWERU cement concern, Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company (SZCC), is seeking at least $2 million for the second phase of the refurbishment exercise of its plant. SZCC, a joint venture between the Zimbabwe and Chinese governments, was set up in 2011 at a cost of $54 million. The latest upgrade will see the construction of two new stock silos, setting up of automatic loading systems and increasing the quarry site capacity.

Wang Yong, the cement company managing director, said a financial institution as well as a Chinese financier had undertaken to finance the latest exercise.

“Our set target is to refurbish the whole plant but that depends on the funding which is very hard to come by in this environment. We are therefore refurbishing the plant in four phases and the next exercise is going to be the second phase.

“The second phase of the refurbishment will be done this year and the total investment is around $2 million. A local bank has already committed to assist us with financing the project and other funds will come from China,” he said.

Wang said once funds are availed the company would embark on the upgrade in earnest.
The SZCC boss said increasing the quarry site capacity would ramp production of clinker at the kiln section by 75 percent from current production levels of 700 tonnes of clinker per day.

Clinker is the major component in the production of cement.
He said: “The increase of quarry site capacity will increase the production of clinker at the kiln section by 75 percent and that will result in an increase of cement production by at least 50 percent.”

SZCC produces 300 000 tonnes of cement per annum.
The impending project comes on the back of another exercise which saw the refurbishment of the cement mill, the refurbishment of the rotary kiln as well as upgrading, renewing and automating ancillary equipment.

The exercise gobbled $4,1 million.
Wang was speaking to journalists at the company site during a handover ceremony of cement to three beneficiaries who included Mkoba lawmaker, Amos Chibaya who received 60 bags of cement for the completion of a library project in the constituency.

Other beneficiaries were Tangwena Secondary School which received 200 bags of cement which is the first consignment of the 750 bags for the construction of a classroom block.

Gambiza Secondary School received 100 bags of cement for the setting up of a laboratory.