Emmerson Njanjamangezi, Group Features Editor 
AFROCHINE, the local unit of the China-based Tsingshan Holding Group, says it has commenced works to build an iron ore mine and a carbon steel plant in Mvuma.
In an interview this week, the Afrochine representative in Zimbabwe, Benson Xu Kemin, said works in Mvuma have begun following the arrival of plant equipment and machinery from China.
“We have received the bulk of the equipment that we needed to establish the carbon steel plant and an iron ore mine.
“This is a major boost to the works that are underway. We cannot commit to a date as yet, but I can confirm that we are ahead of schedule in respect to this project that was billed to start in May,” he said.
The firm is currently based in Selous where it has smelters with a capacity to process a combined 450 000 tonnes of ferrochrome per day.
It also has chrome mining claims in Matabeleland and Midlands.
Chrome is a hard, brittle grey metal with both a high melting point and corrosion resistance, making it a perfect component in the production of stainless steel. Chromium producers sell about 60 percent of their output to the steel industry.
Zimbabwe’s chrome and chromium exports are this year seen firming on growing demand from China, according to market watchers.
The Asian giant is the world’s largest consumer of chrome but it does not have its own chromium reserves and relies on imports.
The mineral is concentrated in South Africa, Kazakhstan, India, Zimbabwe, the US and Turkey.
But despite holding about 12 percent of the global chrome reserves Zimbabwe does not produce much, lagging behind South Africa, Kazakhstan and India.
According to the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency, chromium ore and concentrate exports rose to US$45,6 million during 2020 compared to US$45 million in the previous year.
During that same period ferrochromium (iron and chrome) exports fell from US$218,9 to US$139,4 million.
newsdesk@fingaz.co.zw
