By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –
LAFARGE Zambia has supplied more than 900,000 tonnes of cement into the domestic market this year as compared to 800,000 tonnes in 2012.
Chief executive officer Emmanuel Rigaux said the domestic market was considerably growing due to the continued increase in Government infrastructure projects, mining expansion activities and individual home buildings.
In 2012, the company produced 800,000 tonnes of cement compared to 684,000 tonnes in 2011 for the local market.
Lafarge is one of the leading cement manufacturers in the country with cement production in 2013 reaching 1.175 million tonnes.
“We have supplied 955,000 of cement to the local market and I must mention that the domestic market will remain our priority. Our production volumes have improved at our two factories,” he said.
The domestic market for cement grew by 17 per cent in 2013 when compared to 2012.
Addressing Journalists in Lusaka, Mr Rigaux said Lafarge was still keen on exporting despite a decline in export volumes last year.
He said the company plans to export between 200,000 tonnes and 250,000 tonnes into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this year.
“Exports have in the last three years decreased but with our new capacities, we want to make sure that we are able to come back to higher volumes in terms of exports,” Mr Rigaux said.
“We have exported as much as 350,000 tonnes in the past and this year it shall be between 200,000 tonnes and 250,000 tonnes into the export market,” he said
Mr Rigaux said the volumes continued to improve, supported by the strong growth in the construction industry in domestic and export markets.