PPC Zimbabwe to keep Colleen Bawn plant open

Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), has cancelled plans to shut down its Colleen Bawn cement plant in Gwanda, Zimbabwe, following talks with the government.

Late last year PPC Zimbabwe had suggested the possibility of closing the factory in Matabeleland, citing pressure from cheap imported clinker, smuggling of cement products and high local manufacturing costs.

"We have continued to engage the Zimbabwean Government. PPC Zimbabwe appreciates the support we have so far received, as expressed in the 2018 Budget proposal, which proposed that clinker be removed from the open general import licence in order to support local production" said a PPC statement.
"PPC is committed to continue with local production as supported by Government."

The Colleen Bawn plant is the main PPC operation in Zimbabwe, but the firm also runs a factory in Bulawayo and a grinding plant in Harare. PPC is the leading cement producer in Zimbabwe and competes with Lafarge, Sino-Zim and Kwekwe-based Livetouch Cement.