In May 2026, the NACAG Secretariat visited its project partner Sable Chemicals Industries Limited in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. The industrial site is located approximately three hours southwest of the capital Harare, in an important mining and industrial region of the country. Sable Chemicals has been in operation since the 1970s and was historically the largest producer of nitrogen fertilizers in Zimbabwe. At its peak, the company supplied more than two-thirds of national nitrogen fertilizer demand.
A distinctive feature of the facility was its production structure: Sable operated one of the world’s largest ammonia production systems based on water electrolysis for the production of so-called “green ammonia.” The plant operator produced 70% of ammonia on site and imported the remaining 30%. Despite being located in a landlocked country without access to natural gas, the site was therefore largely self-sufficient. The electricity required for electrolysis was primarily supplied by the Kariba Dam hydropower plant.
Over time, however, increasing climate variability, particularly recurring droughts, led to declining water levels. As a result, electricity availability decreased while energy costs increased. The production of green ammonia gradually became economically unviable and was finally discontinued in 2015.
Since then, ammonia has been imported for downstream processing in Zimbabwe, including via specialised tanker transport from South Africa. This supply chain is both logistically complex and cost-intensive.
The facility remains the only producer of ammonium nitrate in the country and manufactures both nitric acid and ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers. According to the company, it aims to produce approximately 240,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate annually, thereby making a significant contribution to Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
In recent years, the company has experienced several operational shutdowns and financial difficulties, largely due to high energy costs and constrained access to inputs.
Following a capital injection from the Mutapa Investment Fund, Sable Chemicals is currently preparing to resume production, with operations expected to restart soon.
Sable Chemicals has been a NACAG project partner since 2021. The procurement and delivery of N2O monitoring technology were completed by 2024; however, project implementation was subsequently delayed due to the suspension of plant operations.
In light of the planned restart, Nerio Nyabvure and Kamilla von Reden from the NACAG Secretariat discussed options with Mr. Allan Manhanga, the Sable coordinator for the NACAG project, for continuing project implementation during a visit to Kwekwe in May 2026. Significant progress in plant refurbishment was already visible on site, and extensive activities were underway in preparation for the resumption of production.
In parallel with the restart, options for installing a catalyst to reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions are being assessed. The aim is to ensure that production resumes in a more climate-friendly manner. With estimated abatement potential of around 200,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent, the project offers significant climate mitigation benefits.
