(Business in Cameroon) – Figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) reveal that in 2023, Cameroon imported 2,411,855 tons of clinker, reflecting an increase of 243,216 tons (11%) compared to the previous year. Despite this surge in quantity, the value of these imports fell from CFA137.2 billion in 2022 to CFA87.7 billion in 2023, indicating a significant decline of CFA49.5 billion (36%).
The INS report does not provide explanations for these trends. However, the increase in clinker import volumes can be attributed to growing demand from cement manufacturers facing a lack of local production. To curb massive and costly clinker imports, Cameroon’s Cimenteries du Cameroun (Cimencam), a local subsidiary of LafargeHolcim Maroc Afrique (55%), introduced a new cement production technique, substituting clinker with marble powder. Cimencam obtained an exploitation permit for marble from Bidzar in the Northern region of Cameroon.
The company also constructed a clinker production line at its Figuil plant for CFA50 billion. Since March 2024, the local subsidiary of LafargeHolcim Maroc Afrique (LHMA) announced the successful ignition of the furnace at its new plant and commenced clinker production.
Meanwhile, cement manufacturer Mira announced a construction project in 2022 for a cement complex in the Northern region, estimated at around CFA120 billion. This industrial unit is reportedly designed to produce approximately 700,000 tons of clinker annually.
Credit: Source link