Congo’s SONOCC aims for 300,000tpa output

Société Nouvelle des Ciments du Congo (SONOCC) plans to increase its annual output after completing an expansion project last week which is expected to alleviate a cement shortfall and help bring down prices.

The cement producer plans to lift output from 72,000t to 300,000t. The higher volumes are forecast to reduce the cement deficit in the country as well as support national construction efforts. It is also expected to bring down the price of a bag of cement, which currently stands at XOF7000 (XOF14,000/t) in the capital Brazzaville.

SONOCC is owned by the Congolese state, which holds a 44 per cent stake, and Chinese partners. The expansion is seen by Jian Guan, China’s ambassador to Congo, as “an essential step in modernising Congo”.

In FY12, the company recorded good results, including profit of XOF1bn (US$2m).