ARM is requesting government approval to mine limestone in five areas in Kilifi County, Kenya.

The cement producer wants to mine the raw material over 24.931km2 in the Chonyi, Pangani, Chairing, Maereni and Maseras areas. Kenya’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mining invited objections to the bid to be made within 42 days.

This latest application is the third such permitting step following applications to mine in Kajiado and Makueni counties last month. These are currently under consideration by the ministry.

ARM CEO Pradeep Paunrana said last month that the three mining licences it was seeking are to help feed existing operations and that the application would help regularise the company’s permits in line with the new Mining Act.

Approval will raise the competition stakes for the mineral with Bamburi Cement, East African Cement and Mombasa Cement.

Kenya’s demand is rising following a 8.2 per cent drop to 5.8Mt. Official data show that cement production in June advanced to 454,322t from 452,054t in May.