Construction of Sh12b cement plant in Kenya to kick off next year

Posted on : Thursday , 24th September 2015

 Construction work for the long awaited multi-billion cement processing factory project at Sebit in West Pokot County will kick off early next year, company officials have confirmed. Cemtech limited, a subsidiary of India's Sanghi Group of companies will begin construction work for the Sh 12 billion factory after approval by engineers who had earlier raised queries over its site among other issues. Residents, some of whom expected to benefit either directly or indirectly with the setting up of the plant, had waited for long and the commencement of the facility from 2016 is long overdue. Cemtech General Manager Diptish Nandha who paid a courtesy call to the county governor Simon Kachapin in his office in Kapenguria yesterday affirmed that all pending issues were now sorted out. Nadha said experts had been assessing the quantity and quality of limestone besides solving ground geometric technicalities that had delayed the setting up of the plant. "We have now solved the two major challenges on quality of limestone and ground geometric technicalities which delayed the start of construction," he said. He disclosed that upon completion, the factory will process about 1.2 million tons of cement each year adding that residents within the environs of the plant will benefit from power supply from the firm. The cement plant was expected to set foot in the semi-arid county about five years ago but different challenges unfolded time over thus delaying commencement of its establishment. Leaders from the region and residents had on several occasions raised concern with the constant change of construction dates for the factory. At one point, the leaders, including the governor and Senator John Lonyangapuo threatened they would revoke operation license for the firm in favour of another investor who would show 'seriousness'. The company acquired 650 hectares of land about six years ago and residents have been longing for the establishment of the plant, which they anticipated would create job opportunities for them. Speaking shortly after meeting the area governor, Nandha disclosed that the suppliers of the plant machinery are redesigning the machines to ease transportation. He revealed that the machines are expected to be on the location at Sebit by January next year after which construction works will begin. "The machines are very heavy and cannot be transported easily from Mombasa and that is why we have redesigned dissembled parts so that they can easily transport from the port of Mombasa," he added. Kachapin expressed optimism that the project would be a big boost to the county's economy and called on the investor to fast track construction work following the long delays. "We want the investor to speed up construction of the factory so that residents can benefit since it has been long overdue," he said.