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.

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