Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) inaugurated the slated-to-be largest cement factory in the nation, Lemi National Cement, marking a significant milestone in the industry. With a daily production capacity of 150,000 quintals upon full capacity, it is slated to massively grow national production. At the inauguration ceremony held Saturday, September 29, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) applauded the speed, quality, and size of the site, adding its installed capacity is half of the industry’s current total. Located on a 27hct plot in Lemi Building Materials Industrial Park, 140km north of Addis Abeba in Amhara Regional State, the plant is part of a 2.2-billion-dollar multi-phase joint venture by East Africa Holding and West International Holding (WIH), led by Buzuayheu Tadele and Zhang Jimin, respectively. The 600-million-dollar cement plant, constructed by Sinoma (Suzhou) Construction Co of China, is hoped will bring positive change to the cement industry, aiming to boost local cement production, create jobs, and revive the construction sector. The sector has been struggling with low output. Annual demand is estimated to have reached 36 million tons, with 18 cement plants having an aggregate production of 7.5 million tons but production has dropped 60pc below targets. The annual average per capita cement consumption stands at 58kg, which has been relatively stagnant over the last five years. Peak production volumes were recorded six years ago when 20 plants produced 12.7 million tons.

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