By CHATULA KANGALI –
LAFARGE Cement Zambia Plc has partnered with Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) to uplift cement exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This follows a policy directive by Government to the private sector to raise traditional exports and help stabilise the local currency.
Lafarge chief executive officer Emmanuel Rigaux said the cement company had partnered with ZRL to enhance the exports of cement to the DRC.
Mr Rigaux was speaking at the ‘Innovation beyond borders’ Press briefing at the cement plant in Ndola yesterday.
He said Lafarge would next year start exporting 400 tonnes of cement per week to the DRC, and would multiply its exports to Malawi and the DRC by four times.
Lafarge Cement yesterday commissioned the 2015 new state-of-the-art rail loading facility in Chilanga and Ndola.
The firm has become the largest user of rail in the country and the first cement producer to be fully connected.
Lafarge Ndola plant manager Samba Katari said the plant would next month increase its production capacity by 100,000 tonnes.
Lafarge Cement has a production capacity of 1.4 million tonnes per annum and a workforce of 340.
The Chilanga plant produces one million tonnes of cement, while the one in Ndola produces 400,000 tonnes per year.
