China's Dinson Iron and Steel Company broke ground on a $1 billion steel manufacturing industrial park in Mvuma Town, Zimbabwe. The iron and steel plant of the base is already under construction and is expected to start operation in August 2023. At that time, it will use the rich mineral deposits in the country to produce about 1.2 million tons of steel every year when it reaches full capacity.

The President of Zimbabwe, Emerson Mnangaguwa, described the industrial park as a milestone of paradigm shift in the country's industrialization journey. Through this investment, our country will now have one of the largest steel manufacturers on the African continent. It envisages that we will become a vibrant industrial center and produce various value-added Zimbabwean steel products for the local and international markets, he said.

The President also expressed his desire for the future smart city of the industrial park. Government agencies have been instructed to accelerate the finalization of their master plans. The development around the steel plant includes the railway connection to Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as roads, hydropower dams, power lines, schools, clinics and houses.

Chen Shangsong, Chairman of Dinson, said that his team has spent about 500 million dollars in Zimbabwe so far, and the total will eventually increase to 3 billion dollars. The project is of great political and economic importance to the country. If all goes according to plan, it will create 10000 jobs and end Zimbabwe's dependence on 90% of steel imports.

So far, the work of administrative block, blast furnace foundation and channel has been completed. Dingsheng Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Qingshan Holding, an investment group. In addition to the steel plant, it also invests in the production of limestone and coke for the Mvuma plant. Coal to coke processing has started in Wanji District of North Matabeleland Province, and limestone mining has also started in Masvingo.Editor/Xing Wentao