Staff Reporter

The manufacturing industry is set to witness the production of modified tar courtesy of the partnership between Zimbabwe Chemical Refineries (Zimchem), the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and the Midlands State University (MSU).

A contact from Zimchem informed this publication that Zimchem, in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and the MSU, was set to form a strategic partnership in the production of modified Tar.

“Zimchem has entered into negotiations to form a strategic partnership in the production of modified tar. The company has entered into negotiations with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and Midlands State University (MSU),” said the contact.

The same contact revealed that Zimchem was refurbishing its Tar plant with the assistance from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development.

“Zimchem is in the process of refurbishing its Tar plant with the financial support it is getting from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development. The refurbishment is expected to be complete by end of April 2023, given that Zimchem has been using this plant to produce Tar Prime7 (TP7) for road construction,” said the contact.

The negotiations between the entities will see the setting up of a US$ 10 million plant which is expected to be done by April 2023.

“The MSU through laboratory tests discovered the technique to manufacture chrysotile (road tar modifier) from asbestos. This will see the establishment of a US$ 10 million plant by April 2023, with funds coming from Government and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education,” said the contact.

Meanwhile, the setting up of the plant is expected go a long way in boosting Government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) through providing affordable tar which will lead to the maximization of production at reduced costs.