GREENBELT Fertilisers Limited (GBF), a Zambian owned firm, is to set up a fertiliser blending plant in Mkushi at a cost of K3.5 billion.
This will be in addition to another already existing plant in Mazabuka.
After completing the Mkushi plant the company would have a capacity to produce more than twice the amount of fertiliser used in Zambia.
GBF Spokesperson Stanley Kasiya said in a statement that the two fertiliser plants would have the capacity to produce in excess of 350,000 metric tonnes of compound fertilisers per year.
He said the equipment for the Mkushi fertiliser plant arrived in the country two weeks ago.
Mr Kasiya said the Zambian fertiliser market consumed approximately 160,000 metric tonnes of compound fertilisers per year and with the new fertiliser plant coming, the long-term plan for GBF was to capture a significant share of both the commercial and small-scale farmers’ market.
He said that GBF was already running a modern, state-of-the-art fertiliser plant supplied from the USA. The raw materials are sourced from around the world and Greenbelt was taking advantage of the latest proven and improved products on the market.
Mr Kasiya said the plant located in Mazabuka was commissioned in June 2004 and was producing competitively and servicing the local farmers.
He said the coming of GBF would also reduce on the monopoly by some industry on the fertiliser market.
The setting up of another fertiliser plant in Mkushi would be a platform for innovative fertiliser products to the Zambian market and enhance farmers’ yields and quality.
Mr Kasiya said GBF currently employed over 150 people in Zambia and provided extension advice to the agricultural sector.
The company also made investments in intellectual capital in the form of highly trained and experienced agronomists, to improve the service to agriculture in Zambia.
He said the number of workers under GBF was expected to rise to over 250 after the commissioning of the Mkushi plant.
“Greenbelt Fertilisers provides scientifically formulated compound fertilisers to farmers in Zambia, which are formulated to each farmer’s soil, crop and targeted yield requirements. These compound fertilisers are made from a stock range of more than twenty raw materials covering all macro nutrients,” he said.
Mr Kasiya explained that the plant was able to put together compound fertilisers with as many as 11 different nutrient types in a single compound.
He said regular monitoring of fertiliser samples were sent to an independent laboratory in South Africa to ensure all the compounds meet internationally recognised standards.
The demand of fertiliser in Zambia is high and Government was encouraging people to focus more investments in industries that support the agriculture sector.
[Times of Zambia]
This is a very good development. This is what we need. More private sector involvement in the economy. This is also good as it is an agriculture supporting industry which the govt is working very hard to invest in.
I hope they expand their capacity even further so they can produce enough fertilizer to supply the demand in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
This is very good development indeed. This is encouraging, I’m excited about my motherland.I also want to play a part in my country in one or another.
This is good as it will ensure food security. Once the price of fertiliser is affordable to most of our farmers then our people will have enough food to sell and for their own consuption.
We need more of such development. Big up to the MMD Govt for creating an enabling enviroment for more private sector participation in business
These are the storing i would like to be reading .Stories which talk about development in the nation.Who ever is involved congratulation and keep it up.Thank you.
:d/:d/ GO GBM….u dont need a degree 2 be wise!..this is devlpment,especially comn fron a local bussiness man n the opposition..Good work GBM
#5 twachula pafula, there is no GBM. But whoever is behind this greatwork!! We need more such investments
Good investment that will produce surplus for export. Well done, but this now spells total doom for NCZ. Lelo ba NCZ you have been busy voting for MMD now forget your Plant. We told you that the little money that was pumped into NCZ in 2008 was a political gimmick to lure u as usual to vote for MMD which you did. Now see, your plant will never operate. He He He He..
Never thot some one could be wise as @# 7 mpangula.
PIPO NO development until things are done. its just a campain strategy. And what happens to the many kafue employees of NCZ in kafue. Recapitalise NCZ or ask the same new company to pump their capital in NCZ which already has equipment and skilled labour. I hope the same plant will start manufacturing before elections. otherwise MMD no vote in kafue. AIKONA!!!!!!!!!!! ITS ALL SHIT.
This is good if intentions are good. They cant even tell us the owners of the same company. I agree with #8 why didnt the government partner with the same company to rescure NCZ? Why are we keeping NCZ if the private company will soon produce more than required? Dont cheat us that they are targeting other countries as most of them have companies producing fertilizer.
A very good move & business initiative by GBM. May I kindly ask the powers that be to support this initiative by ensuring that the Transport Facilities to & from the plant in Mkushi are up todate in order to ease the movement of both raw materials & finished products to & from the factory in question?
#8 mk says, Thanks a lot for your compliment. The thing is RB came into Kafue in 2008 during campaign and promised NCZ workers that the Fertilzer Plant was to be revamped by him very soon (2008). All they needed was for them to VOTE wisely for him.The govt, pumped in some money to cheat the workers, but the plant never took off. The workers were paid 2 months salary that covered elections period. Then After Elections everything dried up to today the Plant has never produced even a single BAG of fertilizer.Salaries have stopped being paid till 2011 election time & campaigning. African Politics is about who cheats the loudest. i feel pity for NCZ workers.
# 8 mk.Thanks a lot for your compliment. The thing is RB came into Kafue in 2008 during campaign and promised NCZ workers that the Fertilzer Plant was to be revamped by him very soon (2008). All they needed was for them to VOTE wisely for him.The govt, pumped in some money to cheat the workers, but the plant never took off. The workers were paid 2 months salary that covered elections period. Then After Elections everything dried up to today the Plant has never produced even a single BAG of fertilizer.Salaries have stopped being paid till 2011 election time & campaigning. African Politics is about who cheats the loudest. i feel pity for NCZ workers.
Well good news. Blogers # 7, 8 and 11. You see in our economic system the private sector decides where to take their money you cant decide for them , So if they want to build a new plant, the best that Govt can do is facilitate. As for NCZ, my view is that the plant may not be able to ptoduce at competitive partners. If it was a good plant, we would have seen Zambians and international investors fighting for it but alas
# 6, 7 &10 there is no GBM, actually for your info, its some opposition leader who is one of the major shareholders together with some muzunguz. Remember, this company first started in Central before being relocated to Mazabuka, now there are just spreading there wings further,because there fertliser is mostly enjoyd by the commercial farmers.
More of Zambian entirely owned businesses. This is what we need. Is RB going to say it because of him or what?
Good news. Thanks GBF. We wish you all teh success.
As for NCZ, I suspect it’s not fit for purpose. Why then do investors shy away. They should just close it down. Could be old technology – who would like to buy a radio gram.
Good development. The company is owned by purely businessmen and not MMD politicians. The support of government is required
We’re as a KBR Ammonia licensor provider and we offer our BE and FEED studies for such projects, kindly I want to contact with the project manager
BR
Moataz Elmekawy +971566038707