Biruk Girma
18 December 2007
Bishoftou — Sheba Steel Mills Plc, a company owned by Pakistani business group, Mishkaat holdings LLC, completed an installation of a continuous casting plant with an estimated cost of over 20 million Birr at Bishoftou town, some 40 Kms east from the capital.
The project, carried out as part of the company's expansion program initiated in 2006, aimed at upgrading the capacity of the steel mills company to produce grade 60 steel bars.
"This (Production) will open our doors to achieve higher quality standard and produce best quality of steel, second to none in the world and as a direct result better end product", said Ghulam Abbas Hirani, General Manager of the company during a field trip on Monday to the newly completed site.
He said the casting plant would be the first of its kind in the whole of East Africa region.
Explaining on the quality of the product, the General Manager said deformed bars were superior to round bars for concrete reinforcement, be it grade 40 or 60.
He said however that Ribbed cold worked bar were even more special than ordinary deformed bars, "first introduced after continuous research and test by Toristeg Steel Corporation in Europe and planted as TOR Steel." According to the official, the product will be launched in February 2008 after which it would be available for sale in the market.
As regards to the item's local price, he said the company would retain the same prices for the time being as an introductory offer.
"TOR steel and bars made out of Billets of CC plant are more expensive around the world because of values added in making quality billets," Mr Hirani explained.
"However, as an introductory offer we shall retain the same prices for the time being allowing end users to see the difference and notice the advantage for themselves." Commencing production in 2004, Sheba Steel Mills now employees over 650 personnel, a vast majority of whom are locals.
Besides, the steel mills, the Pakistani group runs Sheba plastic industries at Kaliti, Sheba Cable & wire industries PLC, Sheba Gases PLC and Sheba free dispensary medium clinic.
The company plans to produce more produces in the future like Angle Iron, H-Beams, I-Beams, Wire Red, Barbed Wire, Galvanized Wire, BRC and Mesh which are set to be in the market by April 2008, company officials announced during the visit.
Government officials, Stakeholders, Consultants, Engineers and members of the business community, and the media joined the field trip to the newly installed plant at the Bishoftou on Monday.
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Its wonderful begining with the Ethiopians to work with them with great dedication and conviction. I met with the owner of the company almost two years back when he promised me to give Job in marketing/Sales but still i am waiting for that. If possible for him to cotact me at my e-mail. Regards Muhammad Bilal Jadoon mbkjadoon@yahoo.com Islamabad