The new 600,000 tonnes/year dry process cement plant at the Bugarama head office of Rwanda's sole cement maker Cimerwa (51% owned by South Africa's PPC) is currently running at 60% capacity and should reach full capacity by mid- 2018.
The facility was launched in August 2015 after a US$170 million (€150.86 million) investment, and the old 100,000tonnes/year wet process plant decommissioned although some components may be kept in service.
It currently runs off a captive state-run 14MW power plant, with a connection to the national grid by September 2016. The government provides a 25% subsidy on electricity costs and covers all diesel costs.
CEO Busisiwe Legodi said the government aims for the project to reduce high cement imports into the country, currently required to meet requirements for infrastructure development.
Cimerwa presently markets its cement in the local area and is considering deliveries to Kigali, along with exports to Burundi and the Kivu regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
