$500m cement plant lined up for 2018

A US$500 million cement plant which will supply raw materials to companies in the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zones (LS-MFEZ) is expected to be set up outside the areas next year.

And two major companies with more than US$20 million total investment are next year expected to be set up in the LSMFEZ.

On the cement investment, LS-MFEZ chief executive officer, Mukela Lubasi, explained that the plant, which could not be set within the zones due to environmental concerns, would be supplying raw materials to companies in the area.

“The cement plant is next door, for us it is not within the MFEZ, it is a supporting industry because there are a lot of developments going on so we need raw materials so those are some of the raw materials that we need as compared to bringing them to here, “So even if it is not in the MFEZ, it is a welcome development, it could not be here in the MFEZ because of environmental concerns but nevertheless, it is a welcome development,” Ms. Lubasi said.

Ms. Lubasi also said in an in- terview that two major companies whose investment was more than US$20 million would be coming up next year.

She explained that of the two companies, one was putting up two factories; for beverages and another for homecare products.

She said LS-MFEZ currently had 34 companies which had invested in the area.

“We will be launching that soon, with permission with the investors themselves, we will be able to inform the press very soon, the investment is more than US$20. A total of 400 hectares of the 2100 hectares comprises of the LS-MFEZ has been allocated.,” she said.

Ms. Lubasi said the ease of doing business in Zambia had helped in promoting investment in the country, specifically in the MFEZ as the zones had taken up enough market share in the region.

“There is a feeling that the MFEZ, because of the incentives, there is no tax collected but we are looking at the bigger picture, the MFEZ was set up, to create jobs, industrialisation and linkages. LS-MFEZ has continued to grow with an increase of a number of investors,” Ms Lubasi said.