Kigali Cement to resume operations

The Rwandan cement market is being keenly contested for and the country's second-largest cement plant at Kigali Cement had to recently suspend operations and lay-off staff, according to All Africa.

The ARM Cement owned Kigali Cement plant has a capacity of 100,00t and imports clinker from Tanga in Tanzania, but clinker and coal have been in short supply.

"For a couple of years, the company has not been producing on a regular basis and to capacity due to limited availability of clinker from Tanzania," said Pradeep Paunrana, ARM Cement managing director.

Mr Paunrana said the coal shortage has now eased and Kigali Cement will resume operations, but the competition is escalating. Rwanda imports 46 per cent of its cement and Tanzania's Dangote Cement, Lake Cement, manufacturers of the Nyathi brand and Tanga Cement, the producer of Simba brand, are some of the regional players fighting it out with Uganda's Hima for the Rwandan market.

"The national cement demand has reached 50,000 tonnes per month," said Annette Karenzi, director-general of industries and entrepreneurship development in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

"At least 23,000t are imported while Cimerwa (PPC gorup) produces 27,000t," she added.

Local producers wil also be joined by Prime Cement with construction to start on the government and FLSmidth backed plant in 3Q18.