CHIVHU – The Chinese-run Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) has announced a carefully scheduled 60-day plant reset and maintenance programme, describing it as a routine step in the long-term optimisation of Africa’s largest iron and steel operation.
The temporary pause, running from 11 September to 11 November 2025, will allow engineers to complete critical repairs on the sintering plant and finalise commissioning of equipment still undergoing test runs. Management says the move is designed to safeguard efficiency and ensure that full-scale production meets world-class standards.
“This is a proactive, planned exercise to guarantee reliable operations for decades to come,” said company spokesperson Joseph Shoko. “Before the pause we were operating one blast furnace with a capacity of 600 000 tonnes per annum, and our goal remains to scale up to six furnaces. Our ore resources can sustain production for at least 200 years.”
During the maintenance window, many Chinese technical staff will return home briefly to visit families, while local employees have been given the option of annual leave. Those without accrued leave will be on temporary unpaid leave, with US $100 travel allowances advanced against September salaries.
Workers’ committee chair Tichaona Masvanhise and management representative Benson Shumba issued a joint statement emphasising that the reset is part of the original commissioning plan, not a sign of financial strain.
Industry analysts view the decision as a prudent measure to prevent future production losses and to fine-tune the plant for long-term stability, positioning DISCO to remain a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s steel and mining sector for generations.
