Kenya: Equator Energy has commissioned a 10MW captive solar power plant at Mombasa Cement’s Vipingo facility in Kilifi County. The new installation will reduce the producer’s reliance on the national grid, reduce CO₂ emissions and deliver ‘substantial’ cost savings, according to Equator Energy’s post on LinkedIn. During construction, around 100 temporary jobs were created, while 15 permanent roles have been established to support ongoing operations. The project was implemented under a power purchase agreement (PPA) and is part of broader efforts to boost renewable energy adoption in Kenya’s industrial sector.

Bangladesh: The Coast Guard has arrested 24 smugglers and seized 850 bags of cement being trafficked by boat from Bangladesh to Myanmar in exchange for drugs.

Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said the Coast Guard’s Chattogram Base launched the operation on 30 September 2025 after receiving confidential intelligence, according to local press. Officers intercepted a transfer of cement from a cargo ship to a fishing boat in the Bay of Bengal, bypassing customs and taxes. Two boats involved in the smuggling were confiscated.

The Coast Guard noted that cement smuggling through waterways to Rakhine has intensified in recent months amid deteriorating relations between the two sides.

Philippines: The Tariff Commission (TC) has recommended the imposition of a US$1.24/t safeguard duty on cement imports to protect the domestic industry from rising competition.

The commission said domestic cement qualifies as a ‘like product’ and directly competes with imports, which have been arriving in increased volumes. It concluded that the increase in imports had caused serious injury to local producers.

The proposed safeguard covers ordinary Portland cement type 1 and blended cement. It is designed as a temporary measure to provide relief and allow the local industry time to adjust to import pressures. The impact is expected to be greater on lower-priced shipments, as the equivalent ad valorem rate will depend on the import value. Cement imports from developing countries with de minimis volumes, including Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand will be exempt. The Department of Trade and Industry will determine whether new exporting countries qualify under this exemption. The commission also clarified that the safeguard is temporary and will be gradually liberalised, allowing competition to normalise over time.

Malawi: Huaxin Cement successfully ignited its new 2000t/day clinker production line on 28 September 2025, marking the official start of trial production, according to a post on Linkedin by the producer. Once fully commissioned, the plant will add 0.8Mt/yr to the company’s cement capacity. The project reportedly incorporates energy-efficient equipment, low-carbon calcination technology and a full-process DCS automated control system, creating a closed loop from raw material crushing to packaging. The facility will generate 500 direct jobs, with 90% allocated to local workers.

Construction began on 28 October 2024 and was completed in just 11 months. The company said close coordination between the plant and EPC teams helped overcome multiple challenges to deliver the project.