Dinson to launch 400,000-tonne cement plant in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's drive towards industrialisation and import substitution is set to receive another major boost after Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco) announced plans to begin cement production in October, with an annual capacity of 400,000 tonnes, while expanding its steel manufacturing operations later this year.

The cement plant will utilise steel production by-products, particularly blast furnace slag, reinforcing the company's integrated manufacturing model and advancing value addition within Zimbabwe's steel sector.

The expansion comes as Government and the private sector continue investing heavily in roads, housing, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure projects that have driven strong demand for construction materials.

Speaking during a media tour of development projects in the Midlands Province organised by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Disco Project Manager Wilfred Motsi said the cement plant remained on schedule.

"Plans are underway by Disco to start cement production in October this year. We are looking at the production of 400,000 tonnes annually and it's on schedule," said Motsi.

"The primary steel and iron-making by-product used in cement is steel slag, specifically blast furnace slag, among others."

He said the company was also preparing to launch the second phase of the Manhize project before the end of the year, expanding production to include bolts, nuts, mesh wire, wire rods, angle irons and other downstream steel products.

"The plant will produce pig iron and steel billets, wire rods for various wire products, and rebar as a structural base for reinforcement. It will also produce angle irons and other steel products, as well as slag for cement production," he said.

Motsi said Disco currently generates approximately 70 megawatts of electricity through coal-fired thermal generation and waste heat recovery from steel production, with plans underway to export surplus power to the national grid.

"We have sufficient energy even for other players. We are in the process of synchronising to feed excess power into the national grid. We will be supporting the national grid," he said.

He added that 60 percent of the company's workforce comprises people from the surrounding communities who have undergone extensive on-the-job training and are expected to receive formal certification.

The company is also constructing an access road to the mining area, with completion targeted before the end of August.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana said the Manhize project represented one of Zimbabwe's most significant industrial developments and deserved greater public attention.

"The Dinson story has been spoken about. We don't believe it has been told enough because something new is happening every day," he said.

Mangwana said the 800-hectare Special Economic Zone had the potential to support more than 300 downstream industries manufacturing products such as fencing, roofing materials, fabricated steel products and foundry components.

"Disco is producing slag, ash and other by-products, and a lot of companies should be leveraging the presence of Dinson. Dinson is already manufacturing its products, yet local industry is sleeping," he said.

He said Zimbabwe was already benefiting from significant import substitution, with steel products previously imported now being manufactured locally.

"Where we were supposed to spend US$100 million importing steel products, we are now channelling that money into importing something else. It's a good story and we need to tell that story," Mangwana said.

Disco Chief Executive Officer Benson Xu said the company had made significant progress since President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned the project two years ago.

"You can see a lot of products being churned out. We have started delivering products to the domestic market and for export as well," Xu said.

"Since we started production, we have produced pig iron, steel billets and rebar, among others."

He said the company was contributing to Zimbabwe's industrialisation agenda by reducing dependence on imported steel products while creating opportunities for downstream manufacturers.

"This is a Special Economic Zone and we want to see more products and more players coming in. We are inviting industrialists, both local and foreign, to come and benefit from the Special Economic Zone status that we have," Xu said.

Once fully developed, the Manhize Steel Plant is expected to become one of the largest integrated steel manufacturing complexes in Africa, producing a wide range of steel and construction materials while supporting Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 industrialisation agenda.