Cement firm up for second kiln construction

The managing director for Tanga Cement Company Limited (TCCL), Erik Westerberg (at the center), speaks to shareholders during the firm's Annual General Meeting 2012 in Dar es Salaam recently.

By Our Correspondent

THE boards of directors of both Tanga CementCompany Limited  (TCCL) and AfriSam haveapproved the construction of a second kiln, which is anticipated to be in thethird quarter of 2012.

 The project will cost an estimated US$165 millionwill contribute greatly to the economic development of Tanzania and the EastAfrica region.

 Addressing media during the AGM 2012 held in Dares Salaam recently, the managing director for TCCL, Erik Westerberg, saidthat: "the second kiln will enable Tanga Cement Company toproduce enough clinker to supply all of its own requirements and dispense withimports."

The East African market is experiencing rapideconomic development as a result of infrastructure improvements and housingneeds and this will give the company a significant competitive advantage.

Construction of the second kiln is expected tocommence in the third quarter of 2012, with commissioning in the first quarterof 2015.

 "Once completed, the second kiln willincrease the company’s clinker production capacity by 600,000 tons per annum,more than doubling current capacity," he noted.

Tanga Cement Company Limited increased its cementproduction capacity in 2010 by commissioning a second cement mill, expandingcapacity from 750,000 tons to more than 1.2 million tons per year. This is ahistoric moment for Tanga Cement Company, Afrisam and Tanzania, given themagnitude of this project.