Huaxin Building Materials has increased clinker output and expanded on-site power generation at Natal Portland Cement Co’s (NPC's) Simuma cement plant in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, following targeted equipment upgrades.
Daily clinker output from Kiln 2 has risen from approximately 1500t to 4000t, while Kiln 1 output increased from around 1500t to 2200t. The plant’s annual capacity now stands at approximately 1.8Mt of clinker and 2.5Mt of cement.
The programme includes upgrades to the preheater tower, clinker cooler and limestone quarry, retaining existing infrastructure while addressing production bottlenecks. Huaxin acquired NPC in December 2023.
A waste heat recovery system now supplies approximately 30 per cent of the plant’s electricity requirements, according to Govender, reducing reliance on the national grid. Electric mining dump trucks are also being introduced at the quarry to replace diesel vehicles.
The expansion and modernisation programme created approximately 800 temporary jobs. Local employees have received technical training through exchanges with Chinese specialists and visits to Huaxin operations in China, Tanzania and Zambia.
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