Zim opens first locally made oxygen plant

Mutare (New Ziana) -Zimbabwe on Thursday commissioned its first locally made oxygen manufacturing plant, expected to beef up its fight against Covid-19.

Covid-19 is a respiratory disease that damages the lungs and according to the World Health Organisation, one in six COVID-19 patients can develop breathing difficulties.

Ventilators then feed oxygen into the lungs of patients with severe respiratory problems, usually by inserting a tube down the throat.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned the oxygen plant, manufactured by state owned entity, Verify Engineering, which operates under the Harare Institute of Technology.

The plant is situated at the Feruka Oil Refinery, about 25 kilometres west of Mutare town, Manicaland province.

President Mnangagwa said the medical oxygen and industrial gas plant was testimony of Zimbabwe’s capabilities to develop on its own.

“My government provided the necessary institutional and financial support to ensure that the idea, which will impact various value chains, comes to fruition.

“Today’s commissioning adds to the numerous testimonies of the successes made by the Second Republic in infrastructure development and industrialisation. It is further part of the building programme on
National Economic Reconstruction and Social Transformation targeted at boosting productivity, competitiveness and efficiency levels,” he said.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said the turnaround of Verify Engineering could only be attributed to President Mnangagwa’s administration.

“The President is determined to meet targets set in NDS1. Under his astute leadership Zimbabwe is on the rise again,” he said.

“This commissioning is a testimony of the success that can be achieved if the Government collaborates with industry,” he added.

Verify Engineering board chairperson, Air Commodore Dr Edgar Kamusoko said; “This plant will bring the much needed relief to Zimbabwe and the region in the fight against Covid-19.

“The project stalled due to lack of funding but the Second Republic brought it back on the rails.”

The Verify Gases Oxygen Plant is made up of 3 identical units. One unit is now 100 percent complete producing 5 tonnes of Liquid oxygen/day and 10 tonnes of Gaseous oxygen.

The second Unit is now 90 percent complete and expected to produce another 5 tonnes of liquid oxygen per day and 10 tonnes of Gaseous oxygen.

The 3rd plant will be 100 percent complete by end of September 2021 and the Acetylene Plant is at 90 percent.

The target is for this plant to be fully operational before year end
New Ziana