Dinson Iron and Steel Company plans to begin test runs for its steel plant in Manhize, near Mvuma, next month following the completion of the construction of the US$1.5 billion plant.
Dinson project director Wilfred Motsi told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/manhize-steel-plant-to-undergo-test-runs/">The Herald</a> that they expect the test run to be done this month before production begins in June. He said:
<blockquote>
Production is planned to commence in June as construction of the plant has been completed and the electricity transmission line from Sherwood in Kwekwe to Manhize has been completed.
All things being equal, we expect a test run to be conducted anytime this month before the first production begins in June.
</blockquote>
Dinson, one of the three local subsidiaries of China’s Tsingshan Holdings Limited, plans to produce 600,000 tonnes of steel in the first phase, which would rise to 1.2 million tonnes in the second phase.
The group’s other two subsidiaries in Zimbabwe are Afrochine Smelting in Selous, Mashonaland West Province and Dinson Colliery in Hwange, Matabeleland North Province.
Zimbabwe Institute of Foundries (ZIF) chief operating officer Dosman Mangisi said the opening of the Dinson steel plant will have a positive impact on the resuscitation of the local engineering, iron and steel sector. Said Mangisi:
<blockquote>
The commencement of operations at the steel plant will definitely yield a major impact and change to the local industry, which at the moment is grappling with the shortage of raw materials and the knock-on effect has depressed production by companies in the engineering, iron and steel sectors including foundries.
A proclamation has already been made that the Manhize steel plant construction is complete and as players in the foundry sector, we are geared to tap into the opportunities presented by the operationalization of that plant.
Commencement of production at the Dinson Iron and Steel Company’s plant will see all sectors particularly those in the engineering, iron and steel industry improving their production levels as raw materials will be easily accessible and competitive- unlike the current scenario where most of our players are importing.
</blockquote>
The output at the steel plant is expected to rise to 3.2 million in the third phase and ultimately five million tonnes annually in the final phase.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Manhize Steel Plant Set To Undergo Test Runs

The Government has approved a plan for the development of a new town between Mvuma-Chivhu and Manhize in the Midlands Province where the US$1.5 billion integrated iron and steel plant being constructed in Mvuma by Chinese firm Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco).
The new town will be established for about 30 000 residents and the site plan will be made public soon, reported the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/new-city-for-30-000-residents-on-the-cards/">Chronicle</a>.
In an interview on the sidelines of a tour of the construction site by industrialists and banks on Friday, project director Wilfred Motsi said:
<blockquote>
We are working closely with the Government, especially the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works who are working on the plan for the development of the new town. The site plan has been approved.
We should start construction and we need stakeholders such as industrialists and banks to come on board so that we can develop the new city.
</blockquote>
Motsi said Disco owns part of the land on which the new city would be developed while the other belongs to Chirumhanzu Rural District Council.
Zimbabwe Institute of Foundries chief operating officer Dosman Mangisi said:
<blockquote>
The physical planning department in the Ministry of Local Government has since visited the site and approved the new town plans. Zimbabwe will never be the same again.
Looking into this big picture, you need to picture Redcliff town which was born out of Ziscosteel, but this new town will actually be threefold.
In fact, it will be a big city and we will have banks, schools, recreational facilities, hospitals, and a lot of companies including industries around steel mining.
</blockquote>
Chakunda Garainashe who was representing POSB Bank said:
<blockquote>
We are seeing a lot of potential for us as a bank and we want to be actively involved in the development and growth of this town because there is a huge opportunity for everyone.
We have a whole new town to be constructed and our focus is to bank all Disco’s stakeholders, and this company will create value chain benefits and stakeholders will benefit.
</blockquote>
The Manhize Iron and Steel Plant is expected to be one of the largest steel plants in Africa.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Approves Plan To Build New Town For 30 000 Residents

Zimbabwean workers building the US$1 billion steel plant for the Chinese-owned Dinson Iron &amp; Steel Company (Disco) claim they are being exploited.
Disco is a subsidiary of China’s largest stainless steel manufacturer, Tsingshan Holdings.
The workers told <a href="https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2023-02-12-new-chinese-steel-plant-accused-of-exploiting-workers/">The Sunday Times</a> that they are being forced to work in inhumane conditions and are not given off days.
The steel plant which is touted to become Africa’s largest steel plant is located in Manhize, Mvuma, about 192 kilometres south of Harare.
Production is set to start in August this year and the plant is expected to manufacture more than 1.2 million tonnes of steel a year.
A 35-year-old construction worker who spoke to the Sunday Times on condition of anonymity said:
<blockquote>
Nothing good is coming out of the steel plant; we live like animals. Eight workers sleep in one tiny room.
We have no basic sanitation. Sewage overflows at the plant because of blocked plumbing.
We defecate in the bush because they are no working toilets at the plant.
</blockquote>
The sewage overflow is next to the kitchen where the food for workers is prepared.
We are not allowed to cook our own food. The food we are given by the company is badly prepared — we are given sadza with beans or sadza with cabbage.
The food looks disgusting — we eat because we are hungry.
We are paid $4 a day and the money comes as half in local currency and another half in US dollars.
l work for 30 days, with no off day — l have no free time to even visit my loved ones.
<blockquote>
We are not given any off days; you have to work for 30 days. Recently, l got an off day because l lied that my relative had passed away.
It’s a very difficult place to work, but we work because we are desperate for money and to provide for our families.
It’s unfortunate that our Chinese colleagues don’t see us as human beings but as animals. It’s inhumane.
</blockquote>
Another worker, who is 32, claimed they are paid US$$4 a day, working for 30 days straight with no weekends off. Said the worker:
<blockquote>
We are paid $4 a day and the money comes as half in local currency and half in US dollars.
l work for 30 days, with no off day — l have no free time to even visit my loved ones.
</blockquote>
Another worker said they work overtime but are not paid for it and the company doesn’t give them payslips. He said:
<blockquote>
I also work overtime from 5 pm until 10 pm but l am never paid for the overtime. We are not given payslips to see how many hours we have worked.
If we raise concerns, we are ignored. If you keep complaining, eventually you lose your job. With the money l earn I am not able to send rent money or buy groceries for my family.
We once went on strike demanding better pay but the company called the police on us and we were forced back to work.
Quitting is not an option as l am desperate for work to be able to feed my family.
</blockquote>
More than 800 workers are employed at the Manhize plant, with most of them living on the site.
The Zimbabwe Construction &amp; Allied Trades Workers’ Union (ZCATWU), which is affiliated with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), said it tried to organise workers there but management denied them access.
However, in a statement, Dinson Iron &amp; Steel Company denied the allegations, saying they are “continued attempts at smearing and undermining the good work of the investors”.

Chinese Steel Plant Accused Of Exploiting Zimbabwean Workers

Many miners are reportedly building their own power amid reports that the prolonged power crisis has resulted in them losing their production potential.
The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZESA">Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)</a>, the local power utility, says it has applications for 2350MW of new connections, with most of them from mines, according to <a href="https://newzwire.live/as-zesa-fails-these-major-power-hungry-mining-investments-in-zimbabwe-are-bringing-their-own-energy/">newZWire</a>. 
Below are some of the solar projects going up in the mining industry.
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimplats">Zimplats</a></h2>
<blockquote>
Zimplats has been granted licences to build two solar power plants at its Ngezi and at the Selous processing plant. Combined, Zimplats will invest US$201 million to generate 185MW of power. Zimplats has also recently partnered with DPA, the green energy arm of Cassava Smartech, to install rooftop solar at its offices at the new Bimha mine.
</blockquote>
<h2>Karo Mining</h2>
<blockquote>
Karo Mining has started building a new mine near Selous, investing US$391 million for development. Part of the project is a 300MW solar plant to supply the mine, which is expected to start production in 2024. 
</blockquote>
<h2>Caledonia Mining</h2>
<blockquote>
Blanket Mine has recently switched on its new 12MW solar plant. Construction of the solar plant started in 2021 after Caledonia raised US$13 million from a share sale. 
</blockquote>
<h2>Mimosa</h2>
<blockquote>
Mimosa Platinum plans to build a 38MW solar plant.
</blockquote>
<h2>Manhize</h2>
<blockquote>
Tsingshan, the world’s largest stainless steel company, is building a new steel plant at Manhize, in the Midlands which requires up to 500MW in the next two years – almost a third of today’s national consumption. Tshingshan plans to establish a 300MW power station at the site but still needs ZESA. 
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/RioZim_Limited">RioZim</a></h2>
<blockquote>
RioEnergy, the RioZim energy arm, has been awarded licenses to install 180MW of solar power at the gold miner’s operations. The plan is to put up four separate solar parks of 45MW each at RioZim’s three gold mines – Renco Mine in Nyajena, Dalny Mine in Chakari, Cam and Motor Mine in Kadoma, and ​​also at the Murowa Diamonds Mine near Zvishavane.
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Zimbabwe Miners Building Own Power Amid Prolonged Blackouts

Zimbabwe is set to become Africa’s largest steel producer and one of the biggest steel players in the world when the multi-billion steel plant being constructed in Manhize near Mvuma becomes operational.
The plant is estimated to cost US$1.5 billion upon completion of the first phase.
Africa’s largest integrated steel-manufacturing plant is being constructed by Dinson Iron and Steel Company, a subsidiary of the Chinese steel producer Tsingshan Holdings.
The steel plant has the potential to produce 1.2 million tons of iron and steel per annum when at full capacity. Said Chen Shang Song:
<blockquote>
Our target is to commission the first phase in October 2023. We could produce 600 thousand tons of carbon steel per annum creating more than 500 direct jobs and bringing the opportunities downstream and upstream.
Transforming Zimbabwe from a steel importer to an exporter, making forex and contributing to the 12 billion dollar mining industry by 2030.
</blockquote>
Dinson Group has other investments in Zimbabwe which include coal-to-coke processing in the Hwange, which will feed into the steel project and limestone mining operations in Masvingo. Added Chen Shang Song:
<blockquote>
In Zimbabwe, we are building the mining value addition park. Since 2012 we have successfully built the ferrochrome smelting plant in mash west, the coke plant in Matabeleland north and build the park in the Midlands.
So far, we have invested 500 million US dollars, our total investment is expected to exceed 3 billion US dollars.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe has been importing 90% of its iron and steel requirements worth over US$300 million annually.
Most of the steel comes from South Africa followed by China, Zambia and Seychelles.
Production at the Manhize steel plant is expected to start in August next year with the iron ore deposits at the site projected to last beyond 100 years. | <a href="https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/zimbabwe-is-poised-to-become-africas-largest-steel-producer/">SABC News</a>

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