Displaying items by tag: Capacity

Egypt: The government will issue two new cement plant licences before the end of 2025 to stabilise domestic prices and boost capacity to meet growing regional demand, according to Zawya news. The plan follows a recent meeting between cement producers and industry minister Kamel El-Wazir.

An unnamed official said “The two permits are expected to be released before the end of 2025, as each licence will include its own production line.”

The two plants will reportedly add 1.5-2Mt/yr to Egypt’s cement output. National demand is projected to rise to 52Mt by the end of 2025, up from 47Mt in 2024.

Egypt: Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir met with cement producers to discuss production trends, recent price declines, and ways to increase capacity and restart idle production lines, according to a ministry statement. The meeting forms part of the Ministry of Industry’s plan to enhance efficiency in the cement sector and ensure sufficient supply to the local market. Officials reviewed recent price movements, local production levels, and reasons for the shutdown of certain production lines, with a view to their reactivation, according to Zawya news. Cement manufacturers continue to submit monthly production reports to the General Authority for Industrial Development (IDA), including data on licensed capacities, actual output and exports. The review showed that several companies have the technical ability to exceed their currently licensed production limits.

In response, the IDA will study applications from these producers to expand permitted capacities, aiming to optimise resource use, increase supply and stabilise market prices. The meeting also addressed the causes of plant shutdowns, including spare part shortages and ongoing renovation of production units. Some companies are upgrading their systems to align with production and efficiency standards. El-Wazir reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting plants in overcoming technical or administrative obstacles and restoring full operational capacity. The meeting further discussed expanding the use of alternative fuels derived from agricultural and household waste to reduce production costs and environmental impact. Cement companies reportedly expressed interest in this transition, viewing it as a way to enhance competitiveness and sustainability.

Kazakhstan: Construction has begun on a US$222m cement plant in the Alginsky district of the Aktobe region, developed in partnership with West China Cement. The facility will have a production capacity of 2Mt/yr and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Around 1000 workers are reportedly engaged in site preparation, including laying utility lines and building a dormitory for personnel. Once operational, the plant will create approximately 500 permanent jobs, according to Kazakhstan Newsline.

Regional governor Askhat Shakharov, during a visit to the site, said that the project will play a key role in boosting the region’s industrial capacity and strengthening cooperation with China. “The implementation of this project will help reduce dependence on cement imports and supply the domestic market with building materials. The main thing is to conduct the construction according to the schedule and in compliance with all technological requirements,” he said.

India: JSW Cement, part of JSW Group, has commissioned a 1Mt/yr cement grinding unit at Sambalpur, Odisha, through its subsidiary Shiva Cement. The addition raises JSW’s total installed capacity to 21.6 Mt/yr. According to the company, the new facility will help meet rising cement demand in eastern India. The project was developed and financed by Shiva Cement under a commercial arrangement with Bhushan Power and Steel, and will produce cement exclusively for Shiva Cement’s use and consumption.

JSW Cement CEO Nilesh Narwekar said “The eastern region of the country is poised for exponential growth in the coming years. This new state-of-the-art facility in Sambalpur marks a significant milestone in our journey to expand and consolidate our position in this market,” he said.

JSW Cement currently operates seven manufacturing plants across India, including one integrated unit, one clinker plant and five grinding units.

Syria: The Ministry of Economy and Industry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iraq’s Vertex Investment Group to rehabilitate and expand the Hama Cement plant. The agreement covers the rehabilitation and operation of the plant’s third line, increasing capacity from 3300t/day to 5000t/day of clinker within 13 months. It also includes the construction of a new 6000t/day line, which will raise the plant’s total production capacity to around 11,000t/day over the next five years. The MoU also provides for worker training, application of international quality standards, and compliance with environmental and occupational safety requirements.

India: Dalmia Bharat, through its subsidiaries, has announced a strategic investment of approximately US$397m in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The company will set up a 3.6Mt/yr clinker unit and a 3Mt/yr grinding unit at its existing Belgaum plant in Karnataka, alongside a new greenfield split grinding unit of 3Mt/yr in Pune, Maharashtra. The projects, funded through a mix of debt and internal accruals, are expected to be commissioned by the fourth quarter of the 2027 financial year. Following completion, and factoring in ongoing 2.9Mt/yr expansions in Assam and Bihar, Dalmia Bharat’s installed capacity will rise to 55.5Mt/yr.

The Belgaum expansion will strengthen supply in southern Maharashtra and deepen the company’s reach in Karnataka, while the Pune plant will focus on the untapped western Maharashtra markets.

Puneet Dalmia, managing director and CEO of Dalmia Bharat, said “This investment is a significant step in our Phase II expansion strategy, bringing us closer to strengthening our position as a pan-India player and to reach our intermittent goal of 75Mt/yr capacity by the 2028 financial year. The increase in our production capacity is primarily to meet the growing infrastructure demand in Western India.”

India: Penna Cement Industries, a subsidiary of Ambuja Cements, has commissioned a 2Mt/yr brownfield expansion of its cement grinding unit in Krishnapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. With this commissioning, Ambuja Cement’s consolidated cement capacity has risen to 106.45Mt/yr.

India: JK Lakshmi Cement has increased its cement production capacity from 16.5Mt/yr to 18Mt/yr following the commissioning of a new grinding unit in Surat and de-bottlenecking of cement mills at Jaykaypuram and Sirohi. According to the company’s filing, the Surat grinding unit adds 1.35Mt/yr.

Jamaica: Caribbean Cement Company has exported 3000t of cement to Curaçao, following the completion of its US$41.8m debottlenecking project at the Rockfort plant in June 2025. The upgrade expanded production capacity, allowing the company to sustain ‘record output’ of cement and clinker, according to Our Today news.

Managing director Jorge Martinez said the shipment demonstrated the company’s ability to serve both domestic and regional markets. “What you are witnessing is a company that not only fully resources the local market but also has the strengthened capacity to export. Our first commitment is to Jamaica, and now that we can consistently meet domestic demand, we are complementing the local market with exports, leveraging the surplus from our expanded capacity,” he said.

The cargo was loaded onto the MV Suzie Q on 22 September 2025. Curaçao’s construction sector is reportedly growing on the back of tourism-led economic activity, with demand rising for real estate, roads, public spaces and utilities. Caribbean Cement said that it plans to expand its export presence across the Caribbean Basin.

Cameroon: The Central Africa Cement (CAC) plant in Koukoue, Edéa district, was inaugurated on 19 September 2025, in a ceremony chaired by Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development Fuh Calixtus. The event was also attended by the Minister of Transport and local leaders. The US$21m project has a production capacity of 1Mt/yr, and will use local resources such as limestone and pozzolan, while importing clinker. Cement output will serve both domestic demand and export markets, according to Afrik Info.

The new facility will reportedly create 121 direct jobs and boost local supply with affordable cement. It also reinforces Cameroon’s position as a cement hub in Central Africa and aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which aim to increase competitiveness in international trade.