Zimbabwe: PPC commissions its Harare grinding unit

PPC Zimbabwe says it expects to increase exports into the region after commissioning a US$85m grinding plant in Harare which will double the firm’s cement production capacity to 1.4Mta.

"We have to intensify our efforts to try capture that market but already we are at a disadvantage because the manufacturing cost in Zimbabwe is pretty high. So to compete in those markets will be pretty difficult but we are looking at the benefits that will come from this increased capacity," said PPC Zimbabwe managing director, Kelibone Masiyane.

"At the moment we are exporting very little into Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique but it is nothing really to write home about," he continued.

Zimbabwe’s demand for cement for the year is estimated at 1.17Mta. PPC has two other plants in the country at Bulawayo and Colleen Bawn, near Gwanda, with production capacity of 700,000tpa.

"The market might be depressed at the moment but this investment it is strategic. We understand that currently the economy is in turmoil but we have a long-range view for Zimbabwe we have confidence that it will take a turn."

Apart from PPC, Zimbabwe’s cement industry comprises of two other players, Lafarge Zimbabwe and Sino-Zim with installed capacity of 450,000tpa and 250,000tpa, respectively.