Bamburi completes construction of new KES 4 billion production line
The construction works of Bamburi Cement’s new KES 4 billion production line at its Nairobi grinding plant is now complete with commissioning expected in the last quarter of the year.
This marks increased cement production for the company with the new line injecting additional production capacity of 900 000 t/a to increase total capacity at the plant to 2.4 million t/a. Overall, the annual combined total capacity of Bamburi Cement’s two plants (Nairobi and Mombasa) will increase to 3.2 million t/a.
Additionally, the new development will see Bamburi Cement start production of two high strength cement brands namely Power Plus and Power Max that were previously only produced at the company’s Mombasa plant. The Nairobi plant was only producing the Tembo and Nguvu brands. This is the first phase of the company’s ambitious capacity expansion program which commenced three years ago with the actual construction starting in the first quarter of 2017.
“Bamburi Cement appreciates the continued government support to the manufacturing sector’s growth and development. As a company, we are keen to support the Government’s Big Four Agenda in which the sector is expected to contribute 15 % of the Gross Domestic (GDP) by 2022,” said the company’s CEO, Seddiq Hassani.
The key components of the new production line that are already completed include the 140 t/h vertical cement grinding mill (VCM) complete with grid recirculation, process dedusting and hot gas generator, two new cement storage silos with a capacity of 1500 t each, a new 120 t/h cement packing machine, and power installation among other auxiliary equipment.
The Bamburi Cement capacity increase comes hot on the heels of projected demand in both domestic and regional markets attributed to the investment in the construction sector mainly in the individual home builder segment and in major infrastructural activities. According to the economic survey report released in April 2018, the overall expenditure on roads is expected to increase from KES 173.7 billion in 2016/17 to KES 198.4 billion in 2017/18 attributed to increased development expenditure on roads which is expected to grow by 19.2 %.
Further, the company’s capacity expansion program is expected to support the Government’s Affordable Housing Agenda to deliver 500 000 housing units by 2022 by ensuring the country’s projected demand for cement is met.
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