Khayah to spend US$20m on plant refurb

TENDAIISHE NYAMUKUNDA

Khayah Cement Limited, the country’s second largest cement producer, intends to spend between US$15m and US$20m refurbishing its kiln plant in Manresa, Harare, Business Times can report.

The plan was revealed by the company’s CEO, Innocent Chikwata, who yesterday told journalists during a media tour of the Manresa facility in the capital Harare that the move will boost cement output and sales volumes.

According to him, the plant is expected to be completed and re-commissioned in the second half of next year.

 ” We are about to embark on a project where we refurbish this processing plant and this project is going to cost us between US$15m and US$20m.

 “Right now, we’re in the process of finalizing the financing of the project,” Chikwata said.

He added: ” Recommissioning of the plant is expected in the second half of 2025. It is a project in a normal cement factory that can happen once in 10 years, and we are very privileged that we will be part of that monumental event that will happen.

“So once this is done, you’ll find it will bring a lot of stability not just to us , but even the cement industry in terms of raw material supply.

“When we do have the raw material and when it is even in excess, there is also the opportunity to even send to other producers locally because clinker, once in a while in our industry, can become an issue. So, we have decided, as Khayah, to spend that money, so that we not only stabilize Khayah Cement as an operation, but we also do the same for the cement industry.

” So, I think in the next couple of months, once we have tied the knot in terms of how we are funding it, you will see that there will be quite a number of people on this site working on this. In the meantime, it is preparatory work.”