New factory for Namibia
Plans are at an advanced stage to establish Namibia’s very own cement factory, nine years after the closure of the first one at Otjiwarongo. By the end of 2007 or early 2008, Namibia’s own cement plant will be in full production.
Farm Cleveland in Otjiwarongo, where ARDEA Investments (Pty) Ltd plans to establish a quarry and cement plant, has 40 years’ worth of supply of raw materials to produce between 750 000 and 900 000 tonnes of cement per year.
Brazilian CP Cimento and Whale Rock cc of Namibia have teamed up to form ARDEA Investments and establish a multi-million-dollar cement factory 200 metres from the quarry in the Exclusive Prospecting License (EPL) covering 1003.5 ha of marble deposits on the farm.
A draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed quarry and plant says raw materials that will allow Namibia to produce high quality cement are available and have been investigated, adding that Namibia’s geographical setting and its infrastructure strongly favour a sustained cement industry in the country.
The plant will cost the company around N$350 million for two to three years and employ approximately 700 people during the construction phase, with 300 new jobs on site and at the plant. Many other people are expected to be employed through short contracts and services.
There has been no cement production in Namibia since the closure of the one and only cement factory that was also located in Otjiwarongo in 1999. Since then, a number of studies have been carried out regarding the development of a cement factory, following which, ARDEA Investments has identified the potential for a new plant and implemented pre-feasibility studies. Published under Cement News
