Lafarge Zambia plans to double capacity

Lafarge Zambia plans to double capacity by adding another production line at its Chilanga cement plant, as the country's leading cement producer seeks to tap domestic market growth.

"The new production line is still at design stage, but we will be looking at ramping up production to 4000tpd to 5000tpd once construction is complete," Emmanuel Rigaux, Lafage Zambia chief executive officer, told journalists after a Chinese delegation led by Ambassador Zhou Yuxio toured the plant.

Construction of the new line is expected to start next year with completion targeted around 2017, Rigaux added.

Lafarge is seeking to take advantage of the government's efforts to develop power and transportation infrastructure in the country.  Last month, the government raised US$1bn through the sale of a second Eurobond to partly fund infrastructure projects.