In an endeavour to reduce the carbon footprint in its steelmaking inline with the world’s vision to reduce carbon emissions, Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco) is strategizing to produce “green steel” without the use of fossil fuels by constructing three greenfield power plants with a combined output of 300 megawatts.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Green steel represents an important step towards a more sustainable future and a cleaner environment. By reducing the environmental impact of steel production, green steel can help to conserve resources, mitigate climate change, and promote economic growth.
“We want to produce what is called green steel so that green steel can only use the green technology which is coming in,” Disco Operations Manager Wilfred Motsi said.
According to Motsi, the company which is currently constructing a 100-kilometre electricity transmission line to draw power from a ZESA substation in Kwekwe, will also produce 300MW power from wind, solar and heat energy, producing 100MW each.
The three power projects will be constructed at a total cost of US$300 million.
Motsi said his company through converting heat from the steel plant is going to create electric current from a temperature gradient or differential to produce what is called thermoelectricity.
“Actually, we are developing a plant that generates electricity using heat produced from our operations at the steel plant in Manhize.
“It’s a new technology (heat from the steel plant is converted to electricity) coming into Zimbabwe whereby the heat generated from the blast furnaces is then converted into steam which that steam would go and generate electricity from that complex (power workshop) that is being constructed, and it will be producing 100MW.
“When we commission the first blast furnace, the power workshop will be commissioned also because that heat will be integrated within the blast furnace being constructed,” Motsi said.
Motsi said his company is at an advanced stage of constructing a wind power plant in the Manhize Mountain to further aid in the production of green steel.
“We are also going to construct a power plant for the wind which is 100MW again and we are at a very advanced stage to construct the wind power and already everything has been done for the wind.”
“Actually the Manhize mountain is one of the best mountains in Zimbabwe or even in Southern Africa which can generate power because that wind is perennial and I think that one we are saying within 10 months or so, we’ll be getting power generated from the wind on the climax of that mountain,” he said.
