Ethiopia to upgrade roads from gravel to asphalt

Ethiopia’s cement industry has enjoyed substantial growth in the past decade due to strong key drivers attracting foreign cement makers. However, emerging challenges linked to existing gaps in the country’s national investment policy could erode gains already achieved. Shem Oirere reports. With its nearly 16.5 million tonnes of installed cement capacity and 10% average annual consumption growth. This growth has been supported mainly by the implementation of the country’s Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), a five-year government-backed national development programme initially conceived to help the country achieve an 11-15% annual economic growth in the period 2010-2015, Ethiopia is in the top league of cement producers in sub Saharan Africa, rivaled only by Nigeria and South Africa.

Ethiopia is planning a series of road projects as part of its Growth & Transformation Plan. These road projects are worth close to US$128 million in total, with the plans being managed by the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA). Four construction companies have been awarded the contracts by the ERA. The Chinese contractor CGC Overseas Construction Group will rebuild the 60km Shambu-Backo link in a deal worth $45.7 million, providing the existing gravel road with a new asphalt surface. Local contractor Yemene Gi

A Linnhoff TSD1500 MobileMix asphalt plant has achieved remarkable progress on a high-profile African road project, the grade separation of the Tema Motorway Interchange in Ghana.