Mutare to get oil refinary

A LOCAL consortium, Willowton Group, which recently acquired the liquidated Karina Textiles in Mutare has targeted setting up a state-of-the-art oil refinery and soap manufacturing plant by year end.

The Manica Post reported that plans to get the project on track at the Karina Textiles premises were already at an advanced stage.

An oil refinery is an industrial process where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful products such as petroleum naphtha, gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas.

The line of business is considered an essential part of the downstream side of the petroleum industry. Impeccable sources within the Willowton Group that requested anonymity revealed that plans were already underway to set off the project.

"I can not disclose much for now but I can only confirm that Willowton Group, a local consortium, purchased Karina Textiles property late last year and part of our plans here (Karina Textiles premises) is to venture into refining crude oil and manufacturing soap, both laundry and beauty (bathing) soap.

"Until we bring in the machinery and settle other pending and critical issues concerning the project, I cannot divulge much on it for now," said one of the sources.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Manicaland chairman Mr Richard Chiwandire said the Nyakamete Industrial Area needed such futuristic and new-line manufacturing industry, to breathe life in the city's industrial hub.

He cited positives of how new-line industry like the frozen and dried foods distribution company, Mega Market had filled the void by leasing the property of the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe Manicaland plant after it closed its operations in Mutare.

"I am happy that we are seeing new-line industries coming up to fill the void. "As CZI Manicaland chapter, we are optimistic that more of such futuristic industry will be seen in the province once the Special Economic Zones Bill is enacted with incentives to draw investors. Nyakamete (Industrial Area) may be in a poor state now but all hope should not be lost and as CZI, we implore Government to help facilitate the realisation of such big investment deals by local businesspeople that help create employment," said Chiwandire.