HeidelbergCement expand production in Ghana
New cement mill at Tema boosts company’s clinker and cement capacities in sub-Saharan Africa
HEIDELBERGCement have commissioned a new €16 million cement mill with an annual capacity of 1 million tonnes at their Tema cement grinding plant in Ghana. With around 300,000 inhabitants, Tema is one of the most important coastal cities in Ghana, located around 25km to the east of the country’s capital, Accra.
HeidelbergCement subsidiary Ghacem Ltd operate two cement grinding plants in the coastal cities of Tema and Takoradi. With the commissioning of the new mill, the company has increased its cement grinding capacity to 3.7 million tonnes.
Ghana’s stable democracy and dynamic economic growth has led to a quickly rising demand for high-quality cement and other building materials for infrastructure and residential construction.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ghana’s economy is expected to grow by more than 8% in 2012. In addition to gold, timber and cocoa, the traditional main exports of the country, oil production off Ghana’s coast has become another important driving force for the economy.
‘The commissioning of the new cement mill is part of our strategy of focusing on expanding our clinker and cement capacities in attractive growth markets,’ commented Dr Bernd Scheifele, chairman of the managing board of HeidelbergCement.
‘In addition to Asia and Eastern Europe, these include, in particular, the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In September, we announced the construction of a new clinker plant and a new cement-grinding installation in the neighbouring country of Togo.’
