Cement firm to increase production
REDCLIFF-BASED cement manufacturer, Diamond Cement, has purchased new equipment as it seeks to increase production by more than 100 percent to meet the ever-increasing demand for the product.
The firm produces 250 000 tonnes of cement per year, and has set a target of half a million tonnes by next year with plans to expand to the mining town of Zvishavane.
Diamond Cement managing director, Mr Donghuan Wang, said the company was riding on the Second Republic’s re-industrialisation drive, which has seen the country opening up numerous business opportunities and attracting more investors.
“We are very excited by the opportunities being opened up by the Government. I must give it up to the people of Zimbabwe and their hospitality. Nothing is impossible in this country,” he said.
“We have tried to do business in other parts of the world and I must say it is here in Zimbabwe that we are feeling very accommodated. We have since acquired some new equipment and what is left for us is to improve production. We want to double our production as the demand for cement is growing.”
Mr Wang said the company has entered into a power agreement with the power utility, Zesa, to facilitate uninterrupted supply.
“We have entered a joint venture with Zimbabwe Power Company where we produce electricity poles for them while they provide power for us. We have acquired some claims to mine limestone in Zvishavane and very soon we will be setting a plant there,” he said.
“Although we came here first, we received numerous complaints from the community and we saw it is not good for us to disturb people’s lives. So, we are moving the slag some two kilometers away from the people, especially during this rainy season when dust is limited.”
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Owen Ncube, said the Government will continue to support the private sector to improve the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“My office will work closely with relevant stakeholders within the whole of Government and economy approach to expedite a conducive business operating environment in the Midlands province and guarantee the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society before 2030,” he said.
Retooling and increasing capacity utilisation is in line with the National Development Strategy 1 objective to industrialise, and grow the economy.
“This critical investment is testimony of the Second Republic, ably led by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa’s bold and strategic policy to open the economy to private sector-led modernisation and industrialisation as we seek to attain an upper middle-income economy earlier than 2030,” said Minister Ncube.
“Furthermore, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the People’s Republic of China has transformed the way we do business and the livelihoods of our communities through mutually beneficial engagements.”
The minister said cement manufacturing was one of the key pillars of infrastructural development in the country.
“These efforts are being complemented by the iron and chrome industry led by Dinson steel plant in Manhize, Steelmakers here in Redcliff, Jinan and Jin Yi ferro-chrome producers in Gweru, which is rapidly expanding.
“We are inspired by our mantra ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’ and underpinned by our values of commitment, hard and honest work we are building the Midlands we all want brick by brick and stone upon stone.”
Livetouch Private Limited, which owns Diamond Cement employs about 575 employees and is producing 210 000 tonnes of cement annually at current capacity utilisation of 70 percent.
The planned Mberengwa clinker production plant and the 50MW power plant are expected to further consolidate the company’s competitiveness in the cement manufacturing sector.