PROJECT

Projects

Summary of Proposed Investment

Project Number

7688

Company Name

Lowveld Leather (PVT) Limited

Date SPI Disclosed

Aug 9, 1996

Country

Zimbabwe

Industry

Manufacturing

Status

Completed

Sector

Shoes and Leather Products

Department

Regional Industry - MAS Africa

Environmental Category

B - Limited

Previous Events

Approved : Oct 25, 1996
Signed : Mar 10, 1997
Invested : Jul 10, 1997

Project Description

SUMMARY OF PROJECT INFORMATION


Project Name Zimbabwe-Lowveld Leather Products (Pvt.)Ltd.

Region Sub-Saharan Africa

Sector Manufacturing

Project No. 007688

Projected Approval Date September 27, 1996

Company Name Lowveld Leather Products (Pvt.)Ltd. (LLP)

Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders: The sponsors of the project are Messrs. Morgan Ndisengei (4.5%) and Godfrey Gonese (4.5%). Mr. Gonese has more than 15 years of experience in industrial management and public administration.  Mr. Ndisengei’s work experience includes fifteen years of tannery management at Bata Zimbabwe, the country’s largest shoe manufacturer. He will be the project’s tannery manager.

Project Cost including proposed IFC investment

Project Cost: US$1.27 million equivalent
IFC Investment: US$0.50 million (US$0.30 million loan and US$0.20 million equity)

Location of Project and Description of Site: The project will be located in Marondera, 60 km southeast of Harare.

Description of Company and Purpose of Project: The project entails the acquisition and modernization of an existing tannery which is being sold by Belmont Leather (Pvt.) Ltd.  The project will process hides into wet blue and finished leather for export to Southern Africa.

Processing hides into wet blue and finished leather would add value to locally available hides.  The project is also expected to provide employment for 100 people.

Environmental Category and Issues:  This is an environmental review category B project.  Environmental and occupational health and safety issues include liquid and solid waste disposal; air emissions; site contamination from present or past activities; employee training and provision of personal protective equipment; and general housekeeping.  A general environmental management plan is currently under review.  Waste disposal methods include a series of lagoons and settling tanks.  Effluent sampling will form an integral part of project monitoring.  An ERS is expected to be available on August 19, 1996.  

Date SPI sent to PIC: August 9, 1996

For additional information contact:  Corporate Relations Unit - telephone:  (202) 473-7711 - facsimile:  (202) 676-0365.


L:\zimbabwe\lowveld\pic  (August 8, 1996  3:05PM)

Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).

Sponsor / Cost / Location