TINASHE MAKICHI
An inter-ministerial committee set up by Cabinet is expediting the processes required to kick start the construction of Chinese stainless steel producer Tsingshan’s multi-million dollar carbon steel plant in Mvuma.
The committee, set to oversee the smooth flow of the project on Thursday held a crucial meeting at Afrochine facililities in Seleous, a local unit of Tsingshan Holdings Group.
The committee comprises of officials from the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Agriculture ministry and chaired by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Construction of the project is expected to start in the second half of this year.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Winstone Chitando, said:”The committee was set up to kickstart the efforts that will culminate in the construction of the carbon steel plant after Tsingshan chairman met President Emmerson Mnangagwa in China and expressed strong interest towards the project.
“This project is a game changer and I urge the committee members to work with one vision and also come up with deliverables as we expect the President to break the ground for the project.”
Tsingshan Holdings shareholders are expected to visit Zimbabwe towards the end of July this year while the President Mnangagwa is expected to officiate at the ground-breaking ceremony the same month.
A fluorite and limestone production plant will also soon be set up while National Railways of Zimbabwe has since been tasked with coming up with a design for rail line to connect Mvuma and Manize where the plant will be constructed on a 1.5km space.
Afrochine initially signed a $1bn agreement in June 2018 to build the plant with capacity for 2 million tons of steel annually.
Tsingshan through Afrochine currently produces ferrochrome at the Selous smelter facility.
