Sable targets to produce 120 000t of fertiliser

THE country’s sole Ammonium Nitrate (AN) manufacturer, Sable Chemical Industries, is targeting to produce about 120 000 tonnes of fertiliser this year to bolster stocks for the summer cropping season.

Chairperson of an association of fertiliser-producing companies Mr Tapiwa Mashingaidze said Sable Chemicals was producing 10 000 tonnes of AN per month, which will culminate to 120 000 tonnes per year.

Mr Mashingaidze is also the chief executive for Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries (Zimphos).

He said fertiliser being produced by Sable Chemical Industries was half of the required top dressing fertiliser and the country will only import the deficit.

Mr Mashingaidze said the imported fertiliser will replenish the stocks for fertiliser that was already on the market.

“Sable Chemical Industries, the country’s sole producer of AN is producing at least 10 000 tonnes a month, which is half of what we require as a country,” he said. “We will then import the deficit. We are targeting to produce 120 000 tonnes of fertiliser this year to bolster stocks for the coming summer season.”

Sable Chemicals was enlisted as one of the major suppliers of AN to the Command Agriculture and the Presidential Input Support Scheme programmes.

Meanwhile, Sable Chemicals’ coal bed methane project is moving at a snail’s pace as the company still awaits the mineral exploration for the Lupane deposits.

Sable Chemicals Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bothwell Nyajeka said the company was not part of the exploration exercise, therefore, the pace will be determined by the explorations.

“Not much progress has been made on this project (coal bed methane),” he said.

“The amount of money will only be known after completion of the full feasibility study to exploit the gas fields.

“Please note Sable will not be involved in the exploitation of the gas fields, but will enter into an offtake agreement or arrangement to purchase a portion of the gas produced.”