VICTORIA FALLS – Zimbabwe’s ferrochrome output will rise by almost half to one million metric tonnes by 2022, from a projected 419 000 metric tonnes this year, according to statistics released by Zimasco on Friday.
Zimasco is the country’s largest producer of the metal.
Zimasco chief executive officer, John Musekiwa said much of the growth will come out of expansion projects in the country, underpinned by another Chinese firm, SinoTsingshan-the world’s largest producer of stainless steel.
Musekiwa said with adequate power supply, increased ferrochrome output will see a 40 percent rise in chromite ore production in 2019.
“Future years will see chromite ore production increase in line with the growth of ferrochrome production. Chromite ore exports in 2018 totalled 800 000 metric tonnes. Government’s thrust is towards value addition and beneficiation therefore future years will likely see a decrease in chromite ore exports as focus shifts to increasing ferrochrome production,” he noted.
