Chinese-backed Cement Kasaï SAS expects to deliver the first cement from its Katanda plant in Kasaï-Oriental province, Democratic Republic of Congo, in the first quarter of 2027.

The project is being developed through WIH Kasaï Cement, part of the Hong Kong-listed West China Cement group. Construction is approximately 80 per cent complete, technical director Bruno Tshitenga said during a site visit, according to national news agency Agence Congolaise de Presse (ACP).

Launched in August 2024, the project is expected to begin with cement production capacity of 300,000tpa, against an eventual stated capacity of 1.2Mta.

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Progress has been hampered by logistical difficulties transporting equipment from Lubumbashi to the site by rail and road, alongside administrative obstacles. The latest visit identified advances in equipment installation and construction-material deliveries.

The plant aims to improve cement availability in Kasaï-Oriental, where transport constraints contribute to high supply costs. ACP reports prices reaching US$30/50kg bag, compared with approximately US$11 in Kinshasa.