Simba Rushwaya
United Refineries Limited’s Bulawayo factory has temporarily shut down due to acute water shortages facing the Zimbabwe’s second largest city.
In a statement, the URL said it will resume operations once normalcy returns.
“We regret to inform our valued customers, suppliers and stakeholders of the temporary suspension of our factory operations due to limited water supplies.
“We continue to engage Bulawayo City Council with regards to returning the situation to normality. We are aware this is happening as we prepare for the festive season stocking programmes and promotions,” read the statement.
URL chief executive Busisa Moyo said despite having plans to sink boreholes at the factory, the plans have been hampered by the water table.
“We thought of this decades earlier (sinking boreholes)…and much more. When you see us getting to this point it means all you have mentioned has been exhausted. Water table has been depleted in this area. Concerned,” he said.
United Refineries is a personal care and agro-commodities manufacturer which has been in existence since 1946. It exports its products to countries in the region such as Namibia and Botswana.
In 2018, the company announced that it was preparing to list on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. As from December 20, 2013, the company started operating as a subsidiary of Grindrod Limited.
Among other products, the company manufactures Roil cooking oil, Image bath soap and Sunshine cooking oil.
