Displaying items by tag: Rwanda

Rwanda: Kenya-based National Cement subsidiary Cimerwa has announced the appointment of Mangesh Verma as its CEO. He succeeds James Oduor, who oversaw the company’s acquisition by National Cement and its acquisition of Prime Cement.

Verma previously served as general manager commercial and operations for Kenya-based food producer United Millers. He previously occupied management positions in various companies in Kenya and India. He has an MBA from Dr RML Avadh University and a bachelor’s in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry from the University of Allahabad, both in India.

Rwanda: Cimerwa has completed its acquisition of Prime Cement. Cimerwa stated that the purchase of Prime Cement’s assets was an ‘off-market transaction’, denoting a private deal directly with the company. The company will acquire all operational assets of Prime cement, while the government retains any outstanding liabilities.

A statement from Cimerwa reads "Under this agreement, Cimerwa will acquire all assets of Prime Cement, thereby committing to ensuring cement sovereignty in Rwanda."

South Africa: PPC’s revenue grew strongly in the 10 month period to 31 January 2024 mainly due to sales growth from its subsidiary in Zimbabwe. Revenue also mounted in the group’s South African and Botswana cement business, where prices rises offset falling sales volumes. Earnings grew across the business. The company said that sales volumes in the coastal region of South Africa “experienced a sharper decline than in the inland region, mainly due to a weaker retail market and a lack of infrastructure projects in the area.” It added that the performance in group’s South Africa and Botswana units had further deteriorated in February and March 2024. In Zimbabwe sales benefitted from both residential construction and government funded infrastructure projects, constrained imports and a low base in the previous reporting period.

PPC completed the sale of its 51% stake in Rwanda-based Cimerwa to Kenya-based Devki Group subsidiary National Cement in late January 2024.

Rwanda: South Africa-based PPC has completed the sale of its 51% stake in the Rwandan cement producer to Kenya-based Devki Group subsidiary National Cement, for US$42.5m. The divestiture advances PPC's strategic exit of Central and East Africa. As a result, the group's financial position is now cash positive. It had previously reduced its debt by 50% to US$20.3m from US$40.7m between March 2020 and September 2023.

PPC CEO Matias Cardarelli said "I am pleased with the timely completion of the sale of our stake in Cimerwa. The disposal allows us to focus on our core Southern African markets, where we see opportunities to drive improved profitability and secure a more sustainable return on capital."

Rwanda: CIMERWA increased its sales by 12% year-on-year to US$82.5m during the 2023 financial year, which ended on 30 September 2023. Its profit also grew, by 19% to US$16.1m. KT Press news has reported that the National Cement subsidiary, at that time a subsidiary of South Africa-based PCC, attributed the growth to its optimisation of production processes, cost savings initiatives and revamped route-to-market model for both the domestic and export markets.

Chief executive officer James Oduor said "We are very proud of this past year's financial performance. We remain very optimistic that the optimisation of selling prices as well as distribution channels for both domestic and export markets will translate to an even better performance in the coming year." He added "We have put in place a strategy and roadmap to guide actions around environmental, social and governance (ESG) and remain steadfast in our commitment to continually deliver superior value to our customers, shareholders and the nation as whole, all while fulfilling on our promise to continue strengthening Rwanda."

Rwanda: Kenya-based Devki Group subsidiary National Cement signed a deal to acquire CIMERWA from International Holdings Proprietary Limited, a subsidiary of South Africa-based PPC, and minority shareholders on 17 November 2023.

KTPress News has reported that CIMERWA’s chair, Regis Rugemanshuro, said “We look forward to welcoming National Cement as our new shareholder. We are confident that they have the financial and technical resources required to support CIMERWA’s growth and expansion in line with our vision and their ambitions in the region.”

Narendra Raval, chair of Devki Group, said “We are committed to a long-term strategic partnership with CIMERWA. We believe in the potential for this business and its people and are excited by the opportunity to support infrastructure development in the region in line with our strategic expansion ambitions.”

South Africa: PPC recorded consolidated sales of US$335m during the first half of the 2024 financial year, up by 21% year-on-year from US$277m during the first half of the 2023 financial year. Meanwhile, its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 47%, to US$58.1m from US$39.6m. The group increased its cement sales volumes by 4%, and currency effects further helped to offset a 16% rise in its cost of sales. Cement volumes fell in South Africa, however PPC noted a locally ‘resilient performance’ despite a challenging market there and in Botswana, a ‘strong recovery’ in Zimbabwe and a ‘continued positive trajectory’ in Rwanda, via its subsidiary CIMERWA.

PPC said “The key focus for PPC will remain on its southern Africa businesses, including South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. This includes continuing to improve its profitability and enhance returns through further operational efficiencies and cost containment measures. Without a significant increase in infrastructure spending and South African gross domestic product, South Africa's cement demand is expected to remain subdued and sustainability is therefore dependent on both capital discipline and margin management. Notwithstanding, PPC South Africa remains well positioned to benefit from an increase in cement demand, with additional capacity readily available to capture an upswing in demand without significant additional capital expenditure being required.”

Zimbabwe: PPC Zimbabwe has appointed Albert Sigei as its managing director from the start of 2024. He succeeds Kelibone Masiyane in the post, according to the Chronicle newspaper. Masiyane was appointed as the managing director of the subsidiary of South-Africa based PPC in 2016, having joined the company in 1994 as a trainee electrical engineer at the Colleen Bawn Plant.

Sigei is currently PPC’s Head of Strategic Initiatives, a post he has held since February 2023. Before this he was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cimerwa PPC in Rwanda from 2000. He worked for over 17 years for LafargeHolcim and its subsidiaries becoming the CEO of LafargeHolcim Malawi from 2016 to 2019 and the chief operations officer of the East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) in Kenya in 2015. Earlier in his career he worked for PriceWaterhousCoopers. A graduate in mechanical engineering from the University of Nairobi, Sigei holds a number of qualifications in accountancy and business.

Rwanda: West China Cement subsidiary Anjia Cement has inaugurated its Muhanga grinding plant at the Muhanga Industrial Park in Gitarama. Xinhua News Agency has reported that West China Cement invested US$50m in the plant's construction. It subsequently aims to raise its total investments in Rwanda to US$100m.

Rwanda Development Board chief executive officer Clare Akamanzi said "Over the past five years, we have registered investments from China worth close to US$1bn, which will collectively generate up to 25,000 jobs for Rwandans."

South Africa: PPC has published its Integrated Report for its 2023 financial year, which ended on 31 March 2023. The producer recorded revenues of US$559m, up by 0.2% year-on-year from US$557m in the 2022 financial year. Its cost of sales declined by 0.1% to US$471m from US$472m. As a result, PPC's loss widened by a factor of more than seven, to US$32.5m from US$4.36m.

PPC's cement volumes fell by 5.8% in South Africa and Botswana, where its cement prices rose by 8%. The company noted sustained 'good demand' for cement in coastal South Africa. It said that demand was 'robust' in Zimbabwe, however its local sales volumes fell by 16% on account of an extended kiln shutdown at one of its cement plants during the half. In Rwanda, PPC's subsidiary CIMERWA increased its cement volumes by 1%.