Bamburi Cement signs $250M clinker plant deal in Kenya

• Bamburi Cement’s state-of-the-art clinkerisation plant in Matuga, Kwale County, will double Amsons Group’s subsidiary capacity while boosting Kenya’s cement and clinker self-sufficiency.
• Bamburi’s 1.6M tonnes-a-year new clinker plant is set to infuse advanced, carbon-neutral technologies to cut emissions as part of the firm’s responsible citizenry strategy.
• The investment will see Bamburi’s cement production go up to 4 million tonnes from 1.8 million tonnes.

Nearly a year after Bamburi Cements takeover by Amsons Group, the company has entered into a US$250 million (KES32 billion) contract with Chinese firm Sinoma CBMI Construction Co., Ltd  to establish of a turnkey clinkerisation plant in Kenya’s coast.

In an industry update on Tuesday, Bamburi Cement said its 1.6 million tonnes-a-year new clinker plant is set to infuse advanced, carbon-neutral technologies to cut emissions as part of the firm’s responsible citizenry strategy.

Upon completion, Bamburi Cement projects it will double its production capacity for both quality cement and clinker, effectively positioning the company to meet increasing demand for concrete products under Kenya’s infrastructure development and economic transformation push.

The company said that once operational, its turnkey clinkerisation factory will increase Bamburi’s clinker output from a million tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes annually. Equally, the investment will see Bamburi’s cement production go up to 4 million tonnes from 1.8 million tonnes.

Factory to boost Bamburi’s Clinker and Cement Output

Bamburi Cement, which became part of Amsons Group’s subsidiaries about a year ago, said it as reinforced its strategic ambition to secure long-term clinker self-sufficiency, enhance cement production, and support Kenya’s infrastructure demands by signing an EPC contract with Sinoma CBMI, a global engineering and construction firm in the cement industry.

Speaking at the EPC signing ceremony that was graced by President William Ruto and Amsons Group Managing Director Edha Nahdi, and Bamburi Cement Chairman John Simba, among other dignitaries, Bamburi Cement CEO Mohit Kapoor said the Matuga clinker plant will feature a six-stage precalciner system, offering one of the most significant industrial investments by Bamburi Cement in recent years.

By doubling its clinker and cement production, Bamburi Cement Plc will significantly contribute to President Ruto’s recently outlined 10-year national development roadmap. The ambitious KES5 trillion roadmap to be financed by the National Infrastructure Fund aims to transform Kenya into a first-world economy by developing strategic infrastructure, all of which is heavily reliant on cement and concrete products.

As the company continues integrating into the Amsons Group’s regional operations, the new plant, Kapoor said, will be a cornerstone in positioning Bamburi as a more competitive, efficient, and future-ready quality cement producer.

“The new clinker line will greatly reduce reliance on imported clinker, improving quality production consistency and securing supply for the domestic market. This will save Forex resources, stabilise pricing, enhance production planning, and ensure Bamburi continues to meet rising cement demand driven by national infrastructure programs and private sector development,’’ said Bamburi Cement CEO, Mr Mohit Kapoor.

Amsons Group aligns with Ruto’s KES5 billion strategy to turn Kenya into first-world

On his part, Amsons Group Managing Director Mr Edha Nahdi reiterated the pan-African conglomerate’s commitment to supporting Kenya in achieving the bold and ambitious KES5 trillion roadmap outlined by President Ruto to transform the country into a first-world economy and secure its full economic freedom.

Said Mr Nahdi: “Amsons Group stands ready to make its contribution to support President Ruto’s 10-year roadmap on road, rail, ports, airports, and oil pipeline infrastructure development and expansion. By signing this Clinkerisation Plant development EPC contract, Amsons Group is putting its money where its mouth is, to power Kenya’s national development and economic transformation. The delivery of such a bold and ambitious national development roadmap will be heavily reliant on the local availability of quality cement and concrete products.”

Bamburi Cement is part of the Amsons Group, which is growing its presence in East Africa.  The Matuga plant will strategically combine Bamburi’s production strengths with the Group’s plans to expand into new areas, which will lead to more cross-border cooperation, a more efficient supply chain, and a stronger market.

The Matuga project is in Kwale County and is expected to create jobs during construction and ongoing operations, get more businesses involved, and boost the economy across the Coastal region.  It also helps Kenya reach its goal of increasing domestic manufacturing, which is part of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Bamburi Cement targets emission cuts

The new building will have the latest, most energy-efficient technologies that will greatly reduce emissions and help the business stay in business.  These include using Alternative Fuels & Raw Materials (AFR), like coconut and cashew nut husks, as well as municipal solid waste that comes from the Coastal region.  This method shows that Bamburi Cement is committed to cleaner production, responsible environmental management, and following international climate standards for a long time.

Sinoma CBMI Construction Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the well-known China National Building Material Group (CNBM), brings a lot of knowledge to the table when it comes to building, buying, and running cement plants.  Their involvement guarantees that the Matuga clinker line will have the best technology, perfect project delivery, and reliable long-term operations.

Signing the contract is a major step forward for Bamburi Cement in its development within the Amsons Group.  The Matuga clinker project is a sign of new investment, a stronger commitment to Kenya’s cement industry, and a forward-thinking plan that focuses on sustainability, growth, and better manufacturing capabilities.

Read also: Amsons Group unit Kalahari Cement seals 56.2% stake in cement maker EAPC