Ethiopia and Tanzania to open new cement plants

Huang Shan Cement opens plant in Ethiopia

The Chinese company, Huang Shan Cement plc of the Guangdong Chuanhui Technology Development Group Co Ltd is reported to have officially begun producing clinker and cement in the town of Mojo in Oromia Regional State about 75 km south of the capital, Addis Ababa. The Group invested in the cement company in 2009.

At the official launching ceremony, Gu Xiaojie, the Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia expressed delight that the project will help boost the economic development of Ethiopia, and he was looking forward to seeing more Chinese companies investing in the country.

Abdulaziz Mohammed, Vice-President of the Oromia Regional State said that the construction of the plant will help to narrow the gap between demand and supply of products while it creates a significant number of jobs.

Investment in Tanzania

Banco Product (India), manufacturer of gaskets and radiators, is planning to invest Rs. 300 crore in establishing a 500 000 tpa cement plant. The company will invest Rs. 100 crore as its equity contribution with the remaining Rs. 200 crore being raised from bank loans.

Last month Banco acquired a 51% stake in Lake Cement and will invest US$ 12.5 million in setting up the greenfield plant The land, together with the limestone reserves has been acquired, and the plant will be fuelled by coal imported from South Africa.

At present Holcim, Heidelberg and Lafarge are the major players in the country’s cement industry. The demand for cement in Tanzania is expected to increase to 4.45 million t by mid-2016.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/11082010/ethiopia_and_tanzania_to_open_new_cement_plants/