Steel giant diversifying into Lithium mining
Government through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has expressed appreciation for Tshingshang’s investment efforts and significant advancements in the development of the Manhize steel plant.
Announcing new developments Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Engineer Polite Kambamura said DISCO (a subsidiary of the Chinese giant steel producer Tshishang Holdings Group) is now diversifying into lithium mining in Gwanda, and the company also has another project in Goromonzi. He said given the company’s track record the projects are expected to succeed.
“They (Dinson) are now diversifying into lithium mining in Gwanda, they also have another project in Goromonzi so we are sure the lithium project will come to fruition given the good example they set at Manhize.
“They are also going to build beneficiation facilities for lithium in line with the Government’s thrust of local value addition and beneficiation,” Kambamura said.
Tsingshan invested US$1 billion into the Manhize project which is going to be Africa’s biggest steel plant. Production is expected commence in February 2024 with Dinson targeting to produce pig iron followed by steel billets in May and steel bars in October of 2024.
Pig iron is the product of smelting iron ore (also ilmenite) with a high-carbon fuel and reductant such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Pig iron is produced by smelting or iron ore in blast furnaces or by smelting ilmenite in electric furnaces.
Steel billets are semi-finished metal products that are an intermediate form of steel and its rectangular or square-shaped cast.
DISCO is projecting to produce 600 000 tonnes of products in the first phase rising to 1,2 million tonnes in the second phase, then 3,2 million in the next phase and ultimately five million tonnes in the final phase.