Zimplats has partnered with the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) in carrying out research on alternative sustainable uses of furnace slag, a by-product of the smelting process.
The research on developing alternative sustainable uses of the disposed furnace slag, estimated to be complete in 33 months, is to be carried out by a PHD student in Civil Engineering, assisted by three lecturers with skills in Material Science, Civil Engineering and Metallurgy.
The target user for the furnace slag is the construction industry where it can be potentially mixed with other binders to produce construction materials.
Speaking during the commissioning of laboratory equipment to be used for the research, Zimplats Managing Director, Stanley Segula, said the partnership with CUT, demonstrated not only Zimplats’ care for the environment but its proactive sensitivity to social impact in the spaces where the company operates.
“Zimplats recently announced the launch of its US$1.8bn expansion program that includes the commissioning of a third concentrator at the start of FY2024. We are bolstering our processing capacity for our own production and with sufficient capacity for 3rd party processing. This, therefore, means that the slag dump will continue to grow as operations continue,” said Mr. Segula.
“In line with our value of care, we endeavor to work safely and smartly, while caring for the environment and making a positive contribution to society. Thus, the collaboration with CUT is a testament to our core values and our quest to develop alternative sustainable uses of waste.
As a company, we believe that sustainability and posterity are important to our stakeholders and hence we continue to evolve mindfully to align what we do to the increasing demands of our stakeholders. At the center of how we operate is our purpose, which is to create a better future, through the way we do business, the metals we produce, and through superior economic performance to improve the lives of future generations.
The total investment by Zimplats in the research project is US$91,000.