MWANZA, July 25 -- TANZANIA is set to start local production of underground mining support equipment in October, with a new factory expected to produce up to 75,000 Split Sets a month, more than twice the estimated domestic demand.

Mining Engineering Services Tanzania Limited (MES) plans to begin commercial production at its factory later in October, introducing Hot Dip Galvanising technology for the manufacture of mining support equipment.

The factory will produce Split Sets, also known as friction bolts, Dome Plates and Mine Mesh, which are used to support and stabilise underground mine workings.

MES Operating Manager Chrispine Ndege told journalists that the plants production capacity would exceed the estimated domestic demand for a...