Cement News tagged under: East Africa

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Zambezi Portland Cement allows retail purchases direct from plant

09 June 2021, Published under Cement News

Zambia’s Zambezi Portland Cement has allowed the direct retail purchase of cement from its cement plant to reduce price exploitation in the market. The company’s CEO, Gomeli Litana, has said the company has a set price and that it was not interfering in price fixing on the retail market. "As a cement producing company, we do support not only large buyers but small scale consumers, you can come here and buy 100 or 200 bags," he said.

Dugongo Cement plant inaugurated

27 May 2021, Published under Cement News

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi   inaugurated the 2Mta Dugongo Cement plant, in the southernmost district of Matutuine, on Wednesday. The US$330m   investment by the Chinese West International Holding sees the creation of a greenfield plant on 400,000ha, including a quarry and residential complex for some of the 300 permanent staff. Dugongo Cement has its own charcoal-fired 36MW power station. Water is taken from the Maputo River basin and treated to serve the plant. Pre...

Zambian cement prices remain high

19 May 2021, Published under Cement News

The prices of different brands of cement in Zambia are still ranging between ZMW135-145 (US$6-6.45) for a 50kg bag, over a month after Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) directed that prices should be reduced to ZMW110. Last month, CCPC fined Lafarge Zambia Plc and Mpande Limestone Ltd for price fixing with the two cement manufacturing entities expected to each pay 20 per cent of their 2019 and 2020 turnovers while reverting to pre-cartel prices ranging between US$4.50-...

The pull towards Tanzania

11 May 2021, Published under Cement News

Despite a slight contraction in 2020, Tanzania’s cement consumption is estimated to remain stable or increase going forward owing to promising market fundamentals. However, overcapacity remains an issue and producers are having to become innovative to retain market share and margins. A major new addition is also waiting in the wings. By Lisa Kimathi, Standard Investment Bank, Kenya. Infrastructure development is one of the driving forces for the realisation of Tanzania’s Vision 2025 ...

Twiga Cement to expand production capacity

19 April 2021, Published under Cement News

Tanzania Portland Cement (Twiga Cement) has announced its intention to invest US$15m in an expansion and rehabilitation programme in 2021, according to the Tanzania Daily News. For the past 10 years, the factory has been producing 1.2Mta of cement, but it has currently increased capacity to about 2Mta. "Twiga Cement is doing well and we are happy for that, they have also thanked the government for better business environment despite the fact that there are small policy challenges which...

Twiga Cement saw profits rise 25% in 2020

16 April 2021, Published under Cement News

Tanzania Portland Cement (Twiga Cement) saw its pretax profit rise 25 per cent YoY to TZS107.42bn (US$46.3m) in 2020, against TZS85.87bn in the previous year. The company’s turnover and sales volumes also increased 13 and six per cent, respectively, during the year. "The operating performance of the plant and availability of the machinery was good, ensuring clinker production reached record levels," said Hakan Gurdal, chairman. Mr Gurdal said the future looks bright as cement demand in T...

Kolos sees 17% profit drop in 2020

06 April 2021, Published under Cement News

Mauritius-based Kolos saw its profits fall by 17.4 per cent to MUR145m (US$3.57) from MUR175.6m in 2019. The company’s income declined from MUR1.4bn to MUR1.3bn. The drop in profit and income was the result of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the rising cost of raw materials as the rupee weakened. However, the company stated that “despite the difficult operating environment, the company showed tremendous resilience and demonstrated its ability to ensure continuous sup...

Messebo Cement resumes operations

24 March 2021, Published under Cement News

Ethiopia’s Messebo Cement has now resumed production after suspending operations for four months due to fighting in the area. Melaku Alebel, Minister of Trade, has confirmed that the company has started supplying products to stabilise the cement market. While cement prices had spiked in recent weeks, following measures taken by the Ministry of Trade, the price has fallen to ETB420/100kg (US$10.14) from ETB600 in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia's cement sector is on the brink of transition

12 March 2021, Published under Cement News

This week the construction of the Lemi National Cement industrial Complex by East Africa Holdings (National Cement) and West China Cement Ltd in the Amhara region of Ethiopia was announced. This privately-owned industrial park will invest US$2.2bn into the production of building materials, including a 10,000tpd cement plant, adding 3.3Mta to domestic cement capacity and is scheduled to take 18 months to complete. It will take 5-7 years to before the complex is fully complete. Cement ...

New cement project set to begin in Ethiopia

09 March 2021, Published under Cement News

Lemi National Cement Industrial Complex, a new private industrial park, is set to be built in the Amhara region of Ethiopia by private investors, according to The Swazi Observer. The US$2.2bn complex is expected to feature many different factories, including a 10,000tpd cement plant. Other factories to be built at the park include gypsum, board and glass manufacturing. The new park is owned by East Africa Holdings, the group which also runs National Cement. China’s West International Hold...