Namibia: The government has granted permission for Cheetah Cement to buy Ohorongo Cement. Industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse said he had overruled a decision by the Namibian Competition Commission to block the purchase after an appeal by China-owned Whale Rock, the owner of Cheetah Cement, according to the Namibian newspaper. The decision has also prompted to Cheetah Cement to pause plans to lay off 87 workers. It had previously warned that the jobs were at risk due to financial losses arising from import restrictions on cement exports to Botswana and Zimbabwe, and a poor demand domestically.
Whale Rock attempted to buy Schwenk Namibia, the owner of Ohorongo Cement, in February 2025. However, the competition commission blocked the deal warning of reduced competition locally and a threat to jobs. Cheetah Cement spokesperson Tabby Moyo said that both Cheetah Cement and Ohorongo Cement have been operating at 50% production capacity under the current market conditions. He added that there should now be no job losses, although workers will need to relocate from the Otjiwarongo cement plant to the Otavi one. Following the government announcement it has been recommended that both Whale Rock Cement and Schwenk Namibia should increase local ownership to at least 40%.