AI at the centre of ZISCO resuscitation strategy
The use of Artificial Intelligence is at the centre of Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (ZISCO)’s resuscitation as the company is posed to use modern technologies to produce high-grade steel, the company body Chairman Engineer Martin Manuhwa told Mining Zimbabwe.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Kuvimba Mining House (KMH) will see through the resuscitation of ZiscoSteel. KMH has previously revived several companies and mines that include Jena Gold Mine, and Shamva Gold Mine among others, it is expected to play a key role in the resuscitation of the giant steel company which used to employ over 5 000 workers during its peak.
According to Engineer Martin Manuhwa KMH is going to invest up to US$300 million to ensure part of the money is invested into research for the adoption of modern technologies.
Engineer Manuhwa said KMH is bringing in new technology that would make Zisco one of the best producers of decarbonised steel in Southern Africa.
“Kuvimba will go into the mining business as a primary phase to finance the steel business which requires up to 300 million. The steel business requires a lot of research in line with the current technologies,” he said.
Engineer Manuhwa said ZISCO was going to use all the sweat of the fourth industrial revolution in its plan for Zisco resuscitation. He said one of the leading Artificial intelligence companies in steel making industry in the whole world. SMS group has been contracted to see through the adoption of modern technologies by Zisco. All over the world, SMS group stands for future-oriented technology and outstanding service in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the metals industry.
The ZISCO chairman also said that the Company was going to team up with tertiary institutions for expertise in metallurgy, industrial processes, and digitalization to create new perspectives for the industry through continuous innovation.
“We are going to use all the sweat of 4th industrial revolution technologies, things like big data analytics, things like virtual reality, augmented reality, Artificial intelligence and all those things in the new equipment that we use are now embedded into new technology so there is nowhere to run away from them. I think we would need to keep abreast of technology this is why SMS of Germany who are the leading steel manufacturers has been contracted to advise on that. We are also going to team up our training school with tertiary institutions, CUT, HIT has expressed interest NUST is already working with us,” Engineer Manuhwa said.
KMH is now on the ground following the completion of feasibility studies and the signing of the necessary contracts that should see the injection of US$300 million in new capital to kick-start the rebuilding of the steelworks.