Chinese firm Lee Building Materials plans to construct a $12.5 million cement factory in Lindi, South of Dar es Salaam.

Construction of the plant, with a capacity of 300,000 metric tonnes per annum, will commence this September and is expected to strengthen Tanzania’s position as a cement supplier in East Africa.

Lee will specialise in white cement, which is not produced in abundance locally.

The project is also expected to rejuvenate the dormant Kilwa port in Lindi district.

Tanzania’s cement production stands at three million metric tonnes per annum against a local demand of over 2.1 million tonnes.

Current cement producers include Heidelberg’s subsidiary Tanzania Portland Cement Company, French Lafarge’s subsidiary Mbeya Cement Company Ltd and Holcim Mauritius subsidiary Tanga Cement Company Ltd.

Local manufacturers complain that cheap imported cement is hurting their industries, and want the East African Community governments to support them so that the industry can compete with the imported cement.

Source: EastAfrican