Sino-Zimbabwe kicks off upgrade project

Sino-Zimbabwe Cement Company has started the first phase of an upgrade and refurbishment project at its factory situated 40km southwest of Gweru. Work is currently being undertaken on the cement mill and the kiln and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Following completion of this first phase, clinker production capacity will raise to 0.2Mta.

The second phase will focus on upgrading the warehouse and storage facilities and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013, while another phase is scheduled for completion next year.

 "The cement mill will be modernised with third generation technology which will immensely improve our efficiency and quality of product milled, this technology is also the first of its kind in Zimbabwe," the company said in a statement.

The new investments are expected to improve cost control, throughput and. ultimately, competitiveness. The company also expects faster delivery turnaround times for customers.

Sino Zimbabwe Cement is a joint venture between the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe (IDC) and China’s CBMC. The current cement capacity of the plant is 0.25Mta.