February 9, 2024
- By Reporter and agencies
A new cement factory is set to commence operations in Ethiopia to compete with Dangote Cement and others.
The factory is said to be the largest of its kind and is expected to be officially opened in March 2024.
It is also expected that the new mega cement plant will generate approximately 20,000 jobs for Ethiopians.
Lemi National Cement PLC in Ethiopia has stated that production will soon start at the country’s largest-of-its-kind factory.
The new cement company is expected to be completed by May.
The construction company, Sinoma International Engineering Company, stated that the factory should be finished by March and that when fully operational, the plant will increase the East African nation’s yearly ability to produce cement by eight million metric tonnes.
When completed, the plant is expected to curb the demand and supply of cement with an additional quantity of 10,000 tons per day of clinker production, or 4.5 million tons p.a. of cement (PPC).
The new company will compete with Dangote Cement, which is also operational in the East African country and capable of producing high-quality 32.5- and 42.5-grade cement to meet market needs at competitive costs.
The 2.5Mta Dangote Cement plant, less than 90km from Addis Ababa, was commissioned in May 2015.
According to officials, approximately 20,000 Ethiopians are anticipated to find work in the mega cement production plant.
The Lemi National Cement Factory, built for 600 million US dollars, is owned by a joint venture between East African Holding Company and West International Holding, the West China Cement African division.
The business is situated in the Lemi Building Materials Industrial Park, 150 kilometres north of Addis Ababa.
The company recently announced the installation of massive rotary kilns and preheater frames, which are structures used to create cement by breaking down large rocks at high temperatures.
The price of cement has skyrocketed in the last few days, hitting a new high amid the harsh economic realities in Nigeria.
An investigation showed cement brands had experienced price hikes exceeding N1,000 per bag from entities associated with the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN).
As a result, the retail prices in the Southwest region have gone from N5,000 to N6,200 or more. Also, in Abuja and the Southeast prices have skyrocketed to N6,500 or more.
