ZimChem boiler plant refurbishment complete

REDCLIFF chemicals producer, ZimChem Refiners, has completed the refurbishment of its boiler plant and is now focused on increasing the production of tar and creosote.

After the refurbishment, the company is now working on increasing capacity utilisation to about 60 percent.

ZimChem is already working in partnership with Midlands State University (MSU) towards developing homegrown solutions to maintenance and rehabilitation of the country’s roads.

MSU is working on using waste asbestos from Mashava-Zvishavane Mine to produce silicone, which will be mixed with coal tar to produce a product that will replace bitumen. In a post Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa, said the refurbishment work has been
concluded.

“ZimChem Refiners has completed the refurbishment of its boiler and the company remains on course to increase capacity utilisation in the production of tar and creosote,” she said.

The development is expected to enhance the domestic supply of low-cost raw materials for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP), which is underway across the country.

Zimbabwe is importing bitumen from South Africa at US$1,10 per litre. The partnership between ZimChem and MSU is set to cut import bill by close to 50 percent. Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development secretary, Engineer Theodious Chinyanga is on record saying roads rehabilitation must ride on use of low-cost materials.

“The idea is to use local modified tar as we seek to resuscitate our roads using low cost and chip spread methods. The low-cost surfacing will reduce the forex import bill by more than 50 percent,” he said.

Zimchem is producing timber treatment chemicals and furnace fuels only, which accounts for only 10 percent capacity utilisation.-The Chronicle