Pula Steel exports first products to South Africa
Onalenna Kelebeile | Tuesday November 24, 2015 18:00
The billet is the first batch of 1,000 tonnes of steel ordered by Veer Metals. Pula Steel’s Chief Executive Officer, Ranvir Verma said the market looks lucrative as two more companies from Zambia and Zimbabwe have already placed orders. He added the company is looking forward to supplying the whole of Southern Africa with steel and said they produce the best quality product that is the most sought after in the industry.
He could not disclose the monetary value of the first order, but said there is no fixed figure as the value depends on quality and may differ from the agreement reached with a customer.
“Our target is to produce and sell over 300 tonnes per month. We are very comfortable with our sales. Our technology is better so customers are happy to buy steel from us and process it into finished products,” he added.
Verma added they intend to import half of their products and sell half to the local market in the near future.
Pula Steel, which was commissioned 13 months ago, emerged from the BCL’s Polaris II strategy that is aimed at developing the iron production circuit. It’s existence has increased the BCL’s value chain to affirm the mine’s position as a diversified mineral resources and related products enterprise.
At a recent Business Botswana gala dinner in Francistown, BCL Managing Director, Daniel Mahupela said the completion of Pula Steel plant confirms the company’s strategic pillar of developing iron production circuit and added the plant will produce 240 tonnes of steel from scrap metal a day.
“Our stated intention is to produce iron products from iron ore mined in Botswana. We are currently doing exploration in the Shoshong region and in Barolong farms and we will be collaborating with African Copper who own substantial deposits of iron ore in northern Botswana,” he said.
Mahupela further noted the iron production circuit will beneficiate iron ore in the country and create employment, reduce steel imports and generate foreign exchange for the Botswana economy.