Luanda cement plant resumes production after HFO shortage

China International Fund (CIF) has resumed production of its Luanda cement plant after four months of non-acitivity, because of the heavy fuel oil (HFO) shortage in the country.

With the resumption of production, the 3.6Mta plant should start distributiong cement again in December or January.

The Luanda Refinery stepped to supply HFO directly to CIF and Fábrica de Cimento do Kwanza Sul (FCKS) on 10 November. Several adjustments have been made by the Luanda Refinery to improve the quality of HFO, which also raised the price of the product.

FCKS, a rival to CIF, expects to resume its cement production in 50 days time, the firm's CEO, Emanuela Vieira Lopes, said.