Kenya: The East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) plans to expand after returning to profit during the six months ending 31 December 2012. The company said that it was boosted by cost reduction and improved cement sales. EAPCC, Kenya's third largest cement producer, said that it was optimistic of strong full-year results and was exploring expansion into Tanzania. The company already operates in Uganda and South Sudan.

"We are now discussing the financing of these (new) projects," EAPCC's managing director Kephar Tande told investors in Nairobi. The company plans to raise new capital through the Nairobi bourse, with the aim of increasing clinker production to 1.5Mt/yr by 2016 from 0.45Mt/yr at present. Tande also expects EAPCC to double its exports (as a proportion of total production) to 10% by 2014.

EAPCC made a pretax profit of US$4.3m during the six months ending 31 December 2012, compared with a pretax loss of US$2.82m during the same period of 2011. Tande said the business boosted profits by saving about US$9.7m through increased efficiency.

This news is in stark contrast to EAPCC's 2012, which was blighted by boardroom disagreements, strikes, sackings, protests and even a shooting at the plant.