Ethiopian producer looks to secure electricity supplies

Ethiopia-based producer East Cement SC is seeking to increase its electricity supply as shortages have led it to operate at half of its production capacity.

The company, which is headquartered in the Eastern Industry Zone, operates two production lines for the production of Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).

Wei Watao, deputy general manager of the East Cement  factory, told The Reporter (Ethiopia) that the company had settled a payment of some ETB60m to have a special electric power line from the Sululta substation, some 20km north of Addis. By November, the special lines are expected to reach the factory gates with 12MW of power.