via Sable Chemicals shuts down, 200 workers to lose jobs – NewsDay October 12, 2015
ZIMBABWE’S sole ammonium nitrate fertiliser manufacturer, Sable Chemicals, on Sunday shut down operations at its electrolysis plant due to the country’s power shortages.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
At its peak, the Kwekwe-based firm consumed 80 megawatts (MW) before it recently scaled down to 40MW after shutting down five out of 10 electrolysis units.
Zesa further scaled down power supplies to the company, forcing the Jack Murehwa-led executive to shut down the entire production unit on Sunday.
“The decision has been made by the authorities that we have to reduce our power further so that the power is provided to other sectors of the economy. We are going to have to take the electrolysis off and leave the other plant, so we will still be able to bring in some ammonium and convert it,” he said.
He, however, said the company did not have the money to immediately start ammonia imports, as it was owed over $200 million by government.
Production manager Allen Manhanga said the company might also lay off about 200 of its 480 workers to reduce operating costs.
“We will need to reduce our operational costs and also to ensure that operations remain profitable by cutting our manning levels,” he said.
Sable Chemicals has always fought with Zesa over the subsidised power rates, which have seen the company buying power at 5 cents, when the industry going rate is 11 cents.
On numerous occasions, Zesa has switched off Sable Chemicals over a $30 million debt.
Murehwa said owing to the power crisis, his company had cut production by 30% from a target of 100 000 tonnes of AN to just 70 000 tonnes.
COMMENTS
200 Million owed by the government. Its ok why worry you have land.
Be happy. When all the state forests are gone there will be more land to give to the people. Its a pity it will all be desert. Of course in the days of the horrible man Smith there were no power cuts and Sable operated fully. But the people of Zimbabwe are free it is a pity that there is nothing freedon can celebrate in darkest Africa. Well unless one wants to celebrate drakness, poverty and sickness. Yesterday we noted that there had been little expenditure on hospitals and they were in a deplorable state. But please keep voting for Mugabe.
He has done so much for Zimbabawe in 35 years. The problem is nothing of it is good.
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