Zambia Boosts Agricultural and Industrial Capacity with New Urea Facility
By Daily News Reporter
In a landmark moment for Zambia’s industrial and
agricultural future, President Hakainde Hichilema officially commissioned the
country’s largest Urea Plant and the Wonderful Group of Companies Industrial
Park recently in Lusaka Province — a
bold stride toward energy security, job creation, and self-sufficiency.
The newly launched Urea Plant, with a staggering production
capacity of 300,000 metric tones per year, now stands as the largest of its
kind in Southern Africa. Beyond urea, the facility will manufacture industrial
products such as explosives and acids, vital to the mining sector. This
strategic move is expected to reduce Zambia’s dependency on imports and
strengthen local supply chains.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, President
Hichilema hailed the development as a “major leap towards energy security,
industrial growth, and agricultural self-sufficiency,” emphasizing its
potential to boost national revenue and create thousands of jobs.
In a visionary partnership, United Capital Fertilizers (UCF)
has teamed up with the Copperbelt University (CBU) to train chemical engineers,
ensuring that the plant’s operations are not only efficient but also driven by
homegrown talent.
"This is the type of investment we need,” said President Hichilema, “one that integrates education, skills development, and industrial growth.”
And UCF Board Chairperson Mr. Chance Kabaghe announced plans
to build a ZMW 35 million secondary school complete with staff housing — a testament
to the company’s commitment to community development and human capital
investment.
The commissioning also included an 85-Megawatt Thermal Power
Plant, now connected to the national grid. This facility will power UCF’s
operations and neighboring industries within the industrial park, contributing
to Zambia’s energy stability and industrial resilience.
“Beacon of hope” for farmers. With 5,600 farmers already
receiving inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), the plant’s
output is expected to drastically reduce reliance on costly imported
fertilizers.
The Wonderful Group Industrial Park is poised to become a
nucleus of manufacturing, including electric battery production — positioning
Zambia as a rising star in regional industrial diversification.
And the company will upscale NPK fertilizer production from
300,000 to 800,000 metric tones per year, while the newly launched Urea Plant
has created over 3,400 direct jobs and 2,500 additional opportunities across
various skill levels.
This commissioning marks more than just the opening of a plant
— it signals the dawn of a new era for Zambia, where industrial ambition meets
educational empowerment and agricultural transformation.
@ All Copyright Reserved
