Sino Blast, a mining explosives company held a dinner to officially launch its Kwekwe Sales Office recently at Golden Mile Hotel.

The dinner was graced by miners as well as other captains of industry from the City of Gold.

Speaking at the dinner, CitiBay Enterprises Chief Executive Officer Song Zhuolin said that in Harare the company manufactures emulsion explosives with a production capacity of 1200 boxes or 13 tonnes of explosives in 12 hours. “We are so confident that we can supply the entire country. Our blasting velocity surpasses 5200m/seconds whilst others are at 4800m/seconds. We are confident that we can give the best product to our country,” he said.

Chinese owned SinoBlast, was established in June 2019 and was officially commissioned on 1 July 2021. They offer cartridge emulsions, electronic detonators amongst other products. The company is currently buying other raw materials, for example ammonium nitrate from Sable Chemicals which they use at their manufacturing plant in Harare. Kwekwe, being a mining giant in Zimbabwe is fortunate to be the first to have a distribution office although they have plans to open other branches in every mining city in the country.

Also speaking at the dinner was Kwekwe Town Clerk Doctor Lucia Mkhandla who said that Sino Blast has come at an opportune time as it has come to make mining safe and affordable. She said that Kwekwe’s local economic development is slightly boosted by the mining industry particularly the gold sector. “The mining sector is a key sector for the country and it contributes 60 percent of the annual export receipts. The gold industry provides direct employment and employment artisanal miner who are predominantly the youth. I would appeal for sustainable mining. As you blast for the product remember to reclaim the environment for future generations,” she said.

In his closing remarks, Zhuolin added that they are manufacturing explosives but have plans to add mining accessories to their products. At the moment they are importing the accessories from China. He also expressed sorrow at the way artisanal miners are dying in various mining mishaps that can be avoided.

“Miners die sometimes because they want to save a dollar by buying shorter detonator cords. This kind of tragedy is happening everyday across the country. Yet these artisanal miners contribute more than 60 percent of the gold production in the country. They deserve better, cheaper, safer ways to mine and blast for the country and for their families,” he said.