en.Wedoany.com Reported - Zimbabwe's sole ammonium nitrate fertilizer producer, Sable Chemical Industries, has resumed production following a capital injection from the state sovereign investment vehicle, the Mutapa Investment Fund. The company's plant in Kwekwe had been idle for three years.
Chief Executive Officer Harrison Shumba confirmed the facility is now operational, targeting an annual production capacity of up to 240,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which represents approximately 63% of Zimbabwe's total annual demand of around 380,000 tonnes. The facility was shut down due to high energy costs, financial constraints, and operational difficulties, with related issues dating back to the early 2020s.
The Mutapa Fund's capital injection is the latest step in the Zimbabwean government's five-year fertilizer import substitution roadmap, which aims to reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilizer imports from South Africa and other regional suppliers. Shumba stated that the company currently imports ammonia as a key feedstock, with its cost accounting for approximately 78% of production costs. The long-term plan is for Sable to revert to producing ammonia via electrolysis, a technology that operated at the plant from 1972 to 2015. This shift would significantly reduce the cost per tonne of fertilizer and improve supply security for local farmers.
The timing of the plant restart coincides with shifts in the global market. In 2026, global ammonium nitrate and nitrogen fertilizer prices surged significantly due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which restricted supplies from the Middle East. Like many African nations, Zimbabwe faces rising fertilizer import costs, threatening food security ahead of the winter planting season. The resumption of production at the Kwekwe plant offers domestic farmers a local alternative at a time when imported inputs have become more expensive and harder to obtain.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
