Cement demand surge fuels fresh industrial investment

Zimbabwe's rising demand for cement is attracting significant new industrial investment, with Chinese-owned Zhongjin Heli Energy and its subsidiary Jianqiang Cement expanding operations in Hwange as part of efforts to reduce reliance on imported construction materials.

During a tour of the company's industrial complex, Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said the expansion aligns with Zimbabwe's industrialisation agenda under the National Development Strategy 2, noting that growing construction activity is driving sustained demand for cement.

He said the country's economic growth, the expansion of the middle class, and increased infrastructure development are all contributing to a surge in cement consumption, making local production increasingly important in reducing import expenditure.

Zimbabwe's cement demand has nearly doubled over the past six to eight years, with government identifying the cement value chain as a strategic priority for industrial growth.

Jianqiang Cement currently has an installed capacity of 500 000 tonnes per year and is producing about 15 000 tonnes monthly under the Sinoma Cement brand, supplying roughly 20 percent of the domestic market. The plant, completed in September 2025, is producing 42,5R cement for the local market amid strong national demand.

However, the company continues to face clinker shortages, which have forced it to import raw material from Zambia. To address this, Zhongjin Heli is constructing a clinker production facility in Mazowe, where a kiln has already been installed and production is expected to begin before the end of the year.

Once operational, the company expects to rely on locally produced clinker, which officials say will reduce production costs and ease pressure on foreign currency used for imports. Plans are also underway for an additional cement plant in Mazowe, which is expected to push total annual output beyond one million tonnes.

Alongside cement production, Zhongjin Heli has invested heavily in energy generation, commissioning a 235-megawatt thermal power station in August 2025. The plant is designed to supply surplus electricity to the national grid after meeting internal industrial needs, with only about 25 megawatts consumed within the industrial park.

The minister described the project as a key contributor to Zimbabwe's future industrial capacity, highlighting its role in supporting energy security, manufacturing growth and infrastructure development.

The company also operates a coke processing facility with an annual capacity of 500 000 tonnes, part of which is exported to regional markets including Zambia and South Africa.

More than 500 workers are currently employed across the project's various operations, with most drawn from local communities in Hwange. Government officials say the investment reflects a broader push toward value addition, beneficiation of local resources and attraction of foreign direct investment into strategic sectors.

Earlier visits by senior government officials, including Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, have underscored state support for large-scale industrial projects seen as central to Zimbabwe's long-term economic transformation.