Dinson’s steel plant reaches 60pc production capacity

Dinson Iron and Steel Company’s US$1.5 billion steel plant in Manhize has achieved a 60% operating capacity since production began in July.

The company aims to increase this to 75% by the second quarter of next year, when it plans to start manufacturing steel bars in April 2025. Currently, Dinson is producing pig iron and steel billets, with new products expected to boost capacity utilization.

Located near Mvuma in the Midlands Province, the plant is projected to create an additional 500 jobs by next year. Ultimately, it aims to employ 10,000 people by the final phase of production.

This facility is touted as Africa’s largest steel plant, with 2,200 employees.

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Mr. Wilfred Motsi, the project director, confirmed that steel bar production will begin in the second quarter of next year, contributing to a projected increase in employment to 2,700.

The plant, a subsidiary of China’s Tsingshan Holdings Limited, is set to produce 600,000 tonnes annually in its first phase, increasing to 1.2 million tonnes in the second phase, 3.2 million tonnes in the third phase, and reaching five million tonnes in the final phase to serve both local and international markets.

To support operations, a 500-megawatt power plant will be necessary.

Dinson has recently launched a 50MW power plant to enhance energy self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on the national grid. Currently, the steel plant consumes 28MW, with plans to connect the remaining capacity to the grid. Expected net revenues are projected at US$10 million in the first phase, increasing to US$4.5 billion in the final phase.

Once exports begin, Zimbabwe is anticipated to earn significant revenue from regional and international markets, including Asia and Europe.

Mr. Motsi noted that while they have not started exporting yet, they are currently focusing on the local market and have begun sales, although specific figures are not yet available.

Following the closure of Zisco in 2008, the largest integrated steel plant north of the Limpopo, local industries have increasingly relied on imports for steel and related materials from countries such as China and India.

At its peak in the 1990s, Zisco produced over one million tonnes of steel annually and employed more than 5,000 people directly.

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