•LAFARGE Cement Zambia last week commissioned the first-ever Plug-and-Grind plant in Zambia constructed at the cost of seven million Euros in Ndola. Above is part of the plant which has since increased the company’s production capacity by 100,000 tonnes per annum. Picture by CHATULA KANGALI
By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE Government has urged cement manufacturing companies in Zambia to consider exporting the commodity to the Great Lakes Region.
Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge said there was need for cement to be exported to the region to boost the country’s non-traditional exports (NTEs), thereby increasing Zambia’s foreign exchange.
Mr Musenge made the appeal when he commissioned the Plug-and-Grind Plant at Lafarge Cement in Ndola last week.
The plant, which was constructed at the cost of seven million Euros, has increased the company’s production capacity by 100,000 tonnes.
“This plant which has been commissioned today will increase your production capacity as well as your exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“You should also consider exporting cement to the Great Lakes Region through the Mpulungu harbour,” he said.
Mr Musenge said that cement companies in the country had focused on the DRC market only for cement exports.
Lafarge Cement recently partnered with Zambia Railways (ZRL) to transport cement to the DRC.
The company currently exports in excess of 400 tonnes of cement to the DRC.
Zambezi Portland Cement and Dangote Cement both have DRC as their major export market.
