Cimerwa to resume full production in May

Rwanda’s Cimerwa has resumed production after a two-month break for maintenance and upgrade works. This is expected to ease a cement deficit in both Rwanda and Uganda, while also stabilising prices that have recently increased, according to The East African.

The company is currently completing post-maintenance tests and aims to begin full production at its 0.6Mta Bugarama facility in May. The upgrade will improve reliability and operational efficiency, according to Bheki Mthembu, CEO, Cimerwa.

"During the maintenance break, Cimerwa imported clinker from the UAE to ensure that key strategic projects in country — most of which are infrastructural projects — continued to be supplied with cement," said Mr Mthembu.

The country’s second cement plant, owned by Kigali Cement Co, also suspended production due to a shortage of clinker and an ongoing court case with the former owners of the facility.