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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
Zimasco is this year targeting to produce in excess of 400 000 tonnes of ferro-chrome, company spokesperson Ms Clara Sadomba has said. She said Zimasco produced 350 000 tonnes of ferro-chrome last year and expected to reach a record 418 000 tonnes by year-end.
“While 2018 production of around 350 000 tonnes was a new record for the country, new capacity planned for commissioning within the year could see a 20 percent increase in ferro-chrome production capacity to 418 000 tonnes in 2019,” said Ms Sadomba in a statement.
She said the chrome industry was expanding and was working on improving on technology to spur production.
Ms Sadomba said the replacement of old machinery with new technology will see production of ferro-chrome reaching 800 000 tonnes per annum by the year 2022.
“Most of the smelting technology in the country is old and the industry recognises the need to invest in new technology, especially technology that can process fines,” she said.
“Some of the producers have plans to install fines agglomeration technology so that they can take advantage of the chromite fines resource, which accounts for approximately over 40 percent of the country’s chromite ore resource.
“New technology will also improve smelting efficiencies and improve viability of the industry. Capital availability and cost thereof will be critical factors for the industry in its quest to invest in new technologies.
“In the medium term, further expansions will see Zimbabwe ferro-chrome capacity increase to around 800 000 tonnes by 2022.”
Ms Sadomba said the chrome industry had great potential and was in a good position to help the country achieve its Vision 2030 goals.
“With approximately 12 percent of the global chromite resources and its chrome ore and ferro-chrome production currently contributing less than three percent to global ferro-chrome and chrome ore output, the Zimbabwean chrome ore industry has significant potential to grow in leaps and bounds,” she said.
“In line with the Zimbabwean Government’s vision for the country to achieve upper middle income status by 2030, Zimbabwe has a clear vision of seeing two million tonnes of stainless steel (of which one of the key ingredient is ferrochrome) being produced in the country within the next decade.”
Ms Sadomba said Zimbabwe held the world’s second largest chrome ore deposits after South Africa, but was contributing less than five percent to the global output.
Online Reporter