Chinese firm sets up two ferrochrome furnaces

Harare, May 11, 2021 (New Ziana) – Chinese firm, Tsingshan Consolidated Mining has completed the setting up of two high carbon ferrochrome furnaces and a coke battery plant in Selous and Hwange, a cabinet minister said on Tuesday.

Tsingshan, parent company to its Zimbabwean subsidiary, Afrochine and has been operating in the country for 10 years, signed a $1-billion agreement with the Zimbabwe government in 2018 to build a steel plant that will produce two million tonnes a year.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said the miner planned to set up two more battery plants and establish an iron ore mine in a development that will contribute towards Zimbabwe’s ambitious target to achieve a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023.

“Cabinet was advised that since the signing of an MOU in 2018, Tsingshan had completed two high carbon ferrochrome furnaces in Selous, in April 2021 and completed the construction of a 150 000 tonne coke battery in the Hwange in April 2021,” Minister Mutsvangwa told a post Cabinet media briefing.

Tsingshan has since commenced the construction of another 150 000 tonne coke battery plant, she said, and is in November expected to commence the construction of a third battery plant and a power station in Hwange.

“A ground breaking ceremony for the iron ore mine as well as a carbon steel plant will be held in July at Manhize, Mvuma,” Mutsvangwa said.
New Ziana