Cement News tagged under: East Africa

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Khayah Cement highlights energy challenges

20 June 2024, Published under Cement News

Khayah Cement has said high energy costs along with cheap imports are threatening Zimbabwe’s cement producers, reports AllAfrica. According to the company, although power supply has remained relatively stable, power voltage fluctuations continue to affect the smooth running of its cement plant. “The high power costs compared to neighbouring Zambia continue to pose a significant challenge,” said Arnold Chikazhe, company secretary, Khayah Cement. According to Mr Chikazhe, c heaper cement...

PPC Africa predicts 20% YoY increase in earnings

17 June 2024, Published under Cement News

PPC Africa has predicted a 20 per cent increase in earnings for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2024, driven by a strong performance by its Zimbabwe operations. According to The Zimbabwe Mail, the previous year saw PPC Zimbabwe hit by a prolonged kiln shutdown, which had a negative impact on profit. Compared to that prior year, the latest fiscal is expected to see the headline earnings per share jump by 20 per cent. In the 10 months to January 2024, PPC Zimbabwe reported volumes up by ...

Chilanga Cement inaugurates kiln upgrade

17 June 2024, Published under Cement News

Zambia-based Chilanga Cement has inaugurated its Ndola  kiln upgrade project. The project will not only enhance the cement plant’s production capacity but also its environmental sustainability. According to News Invasion 24, the upgrade will enable greater use of renewable energy sources as well as improving product standards.  Jianping Chai, CEO of Chilanga Cement, said the investment confirms the company’s dedication to fostering economic growth in the region. The project is reported...

Kenya's cabinet approves sales of its share in East African Portland Cement

13 June 2024, Published under Cement News

Kenya's cabinet has approved a government proposal to offload the 25.3 per cent share it holds in Kenya-based cement manufacturer, East African Portland Cement Co . This comes as part of a wider plan by the Kenyan government to offload shares in a number of state-owned companies. In November, the country’s President, William Ruto, announced plans to privatise 35 state-controlled companies after enacting legislation in October guiding this process. However, this plan did run into issue...

New white cement plant for Tanzania

23 May 2024, Published under Cement News

Tanzania has started white cement production at a 200tpd cement plant in Mkuranga District, Coast Region. The new plant is owned by Fortune Cement Co Ltd. The construction of the factory is expected to not only create job opportunities and bring in foreign exchange earnings but will also significantly contribute to the local economy. At present more than 50 per cent of the raw materials required for production are sourced locally in Tanzania. Dolomite and gypsum are locally available, but...

Improvement in construction and real estate underpins rise in Kenyan cement demand

21 May 2024, Published under Cement News

A steady advance in building and construction sector credit supported the expansion of the cement industry in the third quarter of 2023, according to the Kenya Bankers Association-Housing Price Index data. Cement production increased 7.2 per cent YoY to 2,541,763t from 2,370,246t in the 2Q23. In addition, improvement in credit to the real estate sector also underpinned market expansion with cement consumption increasing to 2,430,488t in the 3Q24. “Credit growth in the building and constru...

Tanzania’s transformation

20 May 2024, Published under Cement News

Tanzania’s GDP has proven robust and is growing, resulting in major government infrastructure construction projects. This infrastructural transformation is boosting domestic cement demand but operational challenges for local producers remain. Meanwhile, changes to the corporate landscape have been hitting the headlines. By ICR Research, UK As the Tanzanian government looks to unlock the country’s potential through infrastructure investment, the construction industry is expected t...

Kenyan capacity to rise despite stagnant cement consumption

10 May 2024, Published under Cement News

Kenya's cement sector is preparing for another cement capacity rise. Devki Group group's Cemtech Ltd subsidiary has submitted the environmental impact assessment report for a new clinker plant to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for review. The project is the latest in a series of new clinker additions to Kenya's market that should see imports come under pressure. Cemtech Ltd's proposed plant will be situated in Mwatsuma, Mwingi Central Kitui County. The total size and ...

EAPC recommissions Athi River plant

06 May 2024, Published under Cement News

East African Portland Cement (EAPC) has recommissioned its Athi River plant in Kenya, boosting the company’s cement production capacity by 1Mta over the next two years, reports The Star. The plant has been closed for a month for renovations and maintenance. It also underwent the installation of a new kiln shell in 2022, resulting in a 38 per cent expansion in revenue. This latest closure and recommissioning forms part of EAPC’s plans to increase efficiency and production, enabling the co...

National Cement secures finance facility

12 April 2024, Published under Cement News

Kenya’s National Cement has secured a KES4.3bn (US$33.1m) facility from Stanbic Bank Kenya to finance a debt undertaken to construct a new clinker plant in West Pokot , reports The Star. According to the bank, the facility is designed to partially refinance National Cement’s foreign currency liabilities resulting from its recent expansion activities. “This transaction underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the expansion efforts of leading corporates in Kenya...