Message Jeu 18 Fév 2016 08:31

$500m power, cement plant coming

KALONDE NYATI, Lusaka
ZCCM Investments Holdings is expected to develop a 52-megawatt thermal power and cement manufacturing plant in Ndola to gobble about US$500 million as part of the company’s diversification programme.
The projects will be co-ventures between ZCCM-IH and private investors with the company also collaborating with local and international financial institutions on the financing of the projects.
ZCCM-IH chief executive officer Pius Kasolo said the two projects are expected to create more than 1,000 jobs.
Dr Kasolo said in an interview with journalists on Monday that the power plant will provide reliable electricity supply to the cement plant.
“ZCCM-IH is going to set up a power station that will provide between 30 and 35 MW to the cement plant, while the rest of the electricity will be sold to Zesco,” he said.
Dr Kasolo also explained that ZCCM-IH being the shareholder in Ndola Lime, will utilise the waste material from the lime plant to manufacture cement.
He said construction of the cement plant is expected to start by the end of next month.
“We are going to invest in the cement plant that will be located near Ndola Lime, and we are going to use the waste material from the Ndola Lime plant to manufacture cement,” he said.
Dr Kasolo said once completed, the cement plant will bring down the price of the building material in the country and accelerate Zambia’s infrastructure drive.
“We need to bring down the price of cement. Our role is to bring the prices of cement down by investing in the cement manufacturing plant,” he said.