Categories: BusinessZim Latest

FACT CHECK: Zimbabwe Govt Officials Claim a New Steel Plant Being Built Will Be Africa’s Biggest. We Checked the Facts

CLAIM: Zimbabwe’s planned Tsingshan steel plant will be the biggest in Africa

SOURCE: Various media reports

VERDICT: Misleading. While the project will be among the biggest in Africa, it will not be the largest as claimed.

Various media and Zimbabwe government officials have described a steel plant, whose construction has begun near Chivhu, as “Africa’s biggest steel plant”. The US$1 billion project is being led by a division of China’s Tsingshan, one of the world’s largest stainless steel manufacturers.

In March, the Chronicle reported that “Building of Africa’s biggest steel plant begins”. The Herald said the project is expected to result in Zimbabwe being home to the largest steel plant in Southern Africa, if not the whole continent. ZBC reported that “construction of Africa’s biggest steel plant progressing well”.

One of the earliest attributions of the claim is to ZANU PF spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa, who was quoted in 2021 saying the “plant would perhaps be the biggest steel plant in Africa when complete”.

Mutsvangwa, in another article, was quoted as saying the new project would place Zimbabwe “amongst the top five steel producing nations in the world within the next five to seven years”.

The facts

But the data shows these claims are misleading.

ArcelorMittal’s steel plant in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, has an annual capacity of 1.3 million tonnes at its Blast Furnace C, and another 1.9 million tonnes at Blast Furnace D, according to the company’s financial reports.

Egypt’s Al Ezz Dekheila Steel, a subsidiary of Ezz Steel, is the largest steel manufacturing facility in Egypt, with a total capacity of 3.2 million tonnes per annum.

At 1.2 million tonnes per year, the Zimbabwe project would be at par with Uganda’s Tembo Steels Uganda.

In Nigeria, the Ajaokuta steel plant has installed capacity of 1.3 million tonnes per year, although the plant has been idle for years.

Conclusion

While Zimbabwe’s new steel plant will be among the largest in Africa, claims that it will be the biggest steel plant on the continent are misleading. Available figures show other projects in Africa with bigger capacity. FACT CHECK.

Zwnews

Share

Recent Posts

Fresh Details: UZ Professor Was Killed Over Dispute with Sect Leader Madzibaba Ishmael

University of Zimbabwe Professor Itai Muwati Allegedly Murdered Over Disagreement with Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa Following… Read More

29th March 2024

Shadaya Appeals to Police: Family, friends approached by strangers hunting him

Zimbabwean influencer Shadaya Tawona Knight has reached out to the Zimbabwe Republic Police for assistance… Read More

29th March 2024

Zimbabwean Driver Locked Up in DRC After His Truck Kills 18 People in Deadly Accident

Reports from concerned drivers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) indicate that Jeremiah Kamuterera,… Read More

29th March 2024

Police Investigate Discovery of 20 Young Women Linked to Madzibaba Ishmael Cult in Harare Hideout

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an investigation after discovering 20 young women who… Read More

29th March 2024

CAPS United Humiliated as New Boys Bikita Minerals Secure First Premiership Victory…ZPSL Results

 In an electrifying showdown at Rufaro Stadium, newly promoted side Bikita Minerals clinched their maiden… Read More

29th March 2024

No loss of value through introduction of currency stabilization measures- David Mnangagwa

The Deputy Minister of Finance and Investment Promotion David Mnangagwa has attributed the current surge… Read More

29th March 2024