Messebo Cement Factory is working to shift its energy source from coal and electricity to biomass.

Messebo is erecting a plant for the production of the biomass energy and it is 90 percent complete, Hagos Berehe, the project coordinator at Messebo, said. He added it is Mesfin Engineering that is undertaking the civil work and electromechanical work under contract from APEC, while the latter is handling the design, consulting, supply and operations parts.

The newly being constructed plant is expected to be finalized in a one and commence operation by July 2014, Hagos added. This will enable the company to shift its energy source to biomass by 40 percent.

The energy plant is expected to use the hay from sesame produced in Humera, the project coordinator stated. Because of this, when the company finishes the current construction it is carrying on, it will acquire a third baling machine at Humera and a shredder and hummer mill in order to fully shift to biomass energy.

Currently the company is using coal and electricity as a source of energy. It imports coal from South Africa. In addition to this Fortune noted the company burns more than 6700 tons of coal to produce around 4800 tons of clinker every day.

Getachew Equbay (Eng.), Chief Executive Officer of Messebo, said “We are implementing a cost reduction strategy in addition to increasing productivity”.

Currently Messebo produces 2.3 Million Tons of Cement in a year by consuming 160,000 tons of coal which costed 520 Million Birr. It also in average uses 40 Megawatt electric power in a month at a cost of eight Million Birr.

Messebo is owned by Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT) and was established 15 years ago with a two Billion Birr capital. It supplies and most of its products go to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Gilgel Gibe Hydroelectric power project, condominiums being constructed under the 40/60 housing scheme and other high rise buildings and road projects.

Source: Fortune