Circle Cement to upgrade

CIRCLE Cement Limited has embarked on a plant refurbishment programme in efforts aimed at bolstering its market competitiveness as well as enhancing production capacity. The company is currently operating at 85 per cent efficiency due to its depleted and obsolete machinery and other facilities. Officials at the cement producer have indicated that they have put in place measures to rehabilitate their factory plants in a development aimed at enabling the company to operate at 100 percent efficiency. The company is expected to spend up to $US3 million in renovating its plants to raise efficiency levels.

"We are constructing a new section of the kiln said the company’s managing director Mr. Isiah Bingwa. Circle Cement’s parent company, Lafarge is reportedly expected to guarantee the loan fund for the project which is being financed by Standard Chartered Bank.

However, since the company will be shut down during the renovation period, the company said it had put in place stocks that would guarantee the market of adequate supplies during the closure period to amend its operational efficiency.

The company also indicated that they have raised concerns with the responsible ministry over the price of locally produced cement, which they
say is due for review.