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Lafarge Uganda Unit doubles cement capacity
Lafarge SA's Ugandan unit more than doubled its output after it completed expansion at its Hima cement plant in the country's western region, David Njoroge, the unit's general manager, said today by phone from the capital, Kampala.
Production capacity increased to 850,000 metric tons from 350,000 tons after it built a second plant at Hima near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Njoroge said.
The company gained the new capacity six months ago after it completed a $120 million investment over a two-year period, he said.
Namibia's first cement plant was inaugurated this week. (04-02-2011)
Namibia's first cement plant was inaugurated this week, which will end Namibia's reliance on imported cement and supply demand in Botswana, Zambia and Angola.
The Ohorongo facility, the most modern cement plant in Africa, was built 435km north of Namibia's capital Windhoek with funding from the European Investment bank, DEG (part of Germany's KfW banking group) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
The plant will have an annual production capacity of 700 000 tonnes and cover cement production from raw material preparation to cement dispatching. The loan will also finance a grinding mill, access roads, railway track and housing facilities for the workforce.
The new cement plant is expected to make a significant contribution to reducing poverty and towards sustainable economic development in northern Namibia. The Ohorongo plant will provide over 300 direct jobs and provide indirect employment for over 2 000 people in the Tsumeb area, a poor rural district.
Ohorongo cement seek to use invader bush to supply 30% of the plants energy demand, further boosting local employment through harvesting and delivery activities.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, the German Ambassador, interim European Union Chargé d'Affaires and European Investment Bank representative.
"The European Investment Bank congratulates Ohorongo Cement in completing construction of Namibia's only cement factory complying with strict emission and safety standards. We welcome the plant's commitment to improving living standards and employment around the facility and we hope that it will stimulate economic activity in northern Namibia." highlighted Plutarchos Sakellaris, European Investment Bank Vice-President responsible for Africa.
Dr. Joachim Knoth, European Union interim Chargé d'Affaires called the inauguration of the Ohorongo Cement factory a pivotal investment towards the strengthening of the industrial sector in Namibia.
"The factory will support the goals set out in the country's long-term development strategy Vision 2030 for optimal utilization of the country's resources and diversification of its economy. I am convinced that Ohorongo will live up to our expectations and make an important contribution to the economy in the whole region - for generations to come," added Knoth.
"The new cement plant will be an important addition to cement capacity in the region, enabling the expansion of infrastructure, housing and economic development broadly," said Admassu Tadesse, DBSA's Group Executive responsible for the Bank's financing and investments in Africa.
"We are also quite pleased that the Ohorongo cement plant has been built with advanced, improved technology, featuring not only improved energy efficiency, but also the innovative use of alternative fuel, namely the encroacher bush, which will supply up to 30% of the cement plant's energy demand; this is being done in a win-win partnership with the local community and indigenous farmers, promoting further local employment and income generation for agrarian community." noted Tadesse.
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