President Edgar Lungu of Zambia announced the construction of a US$528m cement plant at Ndola Lime Co in the country’s Copperbelt as the country aims to diversify its economy.

The investment is a joint venture between Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings and China’s Sinoconst. The 5000tpd plant will have two 20MW coal-fired power plants to provide electricity to the facility.

Copperbelt Permanent secretary, Elias Kamanga, said the cement plant will create about 4000 jobs.