01 January 2025

Zimbabwe: PPC Zimbabwe says it is speeding up the construction of two solar power plants, with a combined capacity of 30MW, to enhance power supply to its cement plants. The company plans to start work on the solar units from the first quarter of 2025 with completion scheduled for the second half of 2026, according to the Herald Zimbabwe newspaper. Albert Sigei, Managing Director, said that the company was also continuing to work with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to improve the electricity supply.

Kenya: The Ministry of Mining has ordered the shut down all mining operations at East Africa Portland Cement Company due to a US$4m debt the company owes the government. The cement producer has also been accused of operating illegally since 2016, according to Citizen Digital. Its sites have reportedly been lacking safety equipment, not registering vehicles that transport limestone and other infringements. Police have been sent to the company’s quarries to ensure they stop work.

The East Africa Portland Cement Company runs quarries at Portland and Sparetech in Kajiado and Kibini in Sultan Hamud.

India: AVG Logistics announced that it has successfully secured an order worth US$10.5m from a cement manufacturing company, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion strategy. Under this contract, the company will leverage its expertise in managing complex logistics networks to provide tailored solutions. The company plans to address the unique challenges of the cement supply chain, from raw material transportation to finished product delivery.