Egyptian-based Qalaa Holdings is to boost output of the Al Takamol cement plant in Sudan to 800,000t in 2016.

Abdalla ElEbiary, MD of Qalaa, said last week that it plans to enhance production by establishing a new coal mine for the plant within the coming year, according to reports by Zawaya news.

Al Takamol Cement’s 1.6Mta works at Atbara, 300km north of Khartoum, is a subsidiary of Qalaa Holdings via a 51 per cent holding by ASEC, and with 49 per cent held by the Sudanese National Pensions Fund. Production started in 2010, initially yielding 0.13Mt. By the end of 2014, Takamol's current capacity recorded 0.43Mt, ElEbiary said, the Zawaya report added.

Earlier this month, Qalaa Holding said its 1Q15 topline growth was driven mainly by operational improvements at the Al-Takamol works, which recorded revenue growth of 157 per cent, or an EGP131.7m increase over 1Q14.