By Flata Kavinga
Sable Chemicals says it expects to resume full operations by June this year, with the fertiliser manufacturer targeting an annual production capacity of 240 000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser to support Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of the company’s plant in Kwekwe by Vice President Gen. (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga, the company’s chief executive officer and managing director Harrison Shumba said the firm was working towards restarting production after securing funding and completing key maintenance work at the facility.
Shumba said the plant had already restored critical utilities such as electricity and water, while work was underway to complete maintenance of essential equipment ahead of commissioning.
“We anticipate finishing maintenance work around April 24 and 25, and soon after that commissioning activities should start,” he said.
He said the commissioning process would involve gradual testing of equipment and systems to ensure safe operations, as the plant has been idle for several years.
“We expect to have the first bags of fertiliser somewhere in the first and second week of May, with stable operations beginning around early June,” Shumba said.
The fertiliser producer currently relies on imported ammonia, which he said accounts for the bulk of production costs.
“Currently, we are importing ammonia from South Africa, so we depend on the pricing,” Shumba said, adding that global developments had also influenced supply costs.
He said international events, particularly in regions where much of the world’s ammonia is produced, had affected insurance and shipping costs, increasing the overall cost of fertiliser production.
According to Shumba, ammonia contributes between 70 and 80 percent of the cost of producing fertiliser.
“Our aim eventually is to look at local production of fertiliser inputs. If we produce ammonia locally, the price of fertiliser could drop to between US$17 and US$22 per bag,” he said.
Shumba said local ammonia production would also shorten supply turnaround times, which currently range between 30 and 45 days when importing the raw material.
“If we can produce it locally, the turnaround is reduced to four or five days, which means this plant will be able to go to full capacity,” he said.
At full production, the company aims to supply a significant portion of the country’s fertiliser requirements.
Zimbabwe’s current top-dressing fertiliser demand is estimated at about 380 000 tonnes annually, and Shumba said the company could supply between 60 and 70 percent of the national requirement.
For the upcoming farming season, he said the company expects to produce about 50 000 tonnes once operations begin.
Shumba said the company had secured funding through the government-backed Mutapa Investment Fund, with support from private sector partner TA Holdings.
“We have been allocated the necessary funding to start the plant and the staff that will be doing the work have already been recruited,” he said.
Shumba added that the company has room for expansion, noting that the plant sits on more than 300 hectares of land, with an additional 107 hectares at Sable Farm and access to water from the nearby Sebakwe River.
He said increased fertiliser production could help lower food production costs and improve national food security.
“If citizens can buy cheaper food, it means prices in our supermarkets will also drop. Farmers will also be able to make profits from their small holdings and support their families,” Shumba said.
