Zimasco turns the bend, operating at 80pc capacity
KWEKWE-based chrome smelting company, Zimbabwe Mining and Smelting Company (Zimasco), is now operating at 80 percent capacity after successfully resuscitating its blast furnaces while under judicial management.
Zimasco was last month weaned off judicial management.
In an interview yesterday, Zimasco spokesperson, Ms Clara Sadomba, said the giant ferro-chrome producer was now operating at 80 percent capacity.
“We have five furnaces, which have the capacity to produce 180 000 tonnes of ferro-chrome per annum,” she said. “Currently, four furnaces are operational, meaning we are utilising 80 percent of our capacity.
“A South African company, Portnex, is leasing two of those four furnaces, while Zimasco is running the other two furnaces.”
Ms Sadomba said they were targeting to produce 580 000 tonnes of chrome this year from 350 000 produced last year.
“Zimasco produced approximately 100 000 tonnes of ferro-chrome from smelting and metal recovery operations in 2017,” she said.
“Zimasco produced approximately 150 000 tonnes of chrome ore in 2017 for export and 200 000 tonnes of chrome ore for the production of its ferro-chrome. Zimasco is targeting to produce approximately 120 000 tonnes of ferro-chrome in 2018. The firm is targeting to produce approximately 360 000 tonnes of chrome ore for export in 2018 and 220 000 tonnes for its ferro-chrome production.” The firm employees 700 people. Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Cde Owen Ncube said Zimasco was one of the anchor projects that the province had that would help ease unemployment and contribute immensely to economic growth.
Zimasco, an integrated ferro-chrome producer with chromite mines in Shurugwi, Guinea Fowl, Lalapanzi, Mutorashanga and tributor operations along the Great Dyke, had been facing challenges during the past decade, but was now on a rebound.