The Chemical and Construction Input Industry Development Institute of Ethiopia announced its plans to secure USD 40 million from cement export in the GTP II period.

Solomon Yohannes, Director of Cement and Related Products Industry Development at the Institute told Walta Information Center (WIC) his country targeted to earn USD 40 million, an average increase of five USD million every year.

Ethiopia’s current annual total cement production is 15.1 million tons. It planned to boost production to 27 million tons through the 20 cement factories the country has.

The cement factories average cement production capacity has reached 65 percent of the installed capacity. Solomon said it is planned to increase their capacity to 80 percent, a minimum amount as compared to the international standard. However, Messebo Cement Factory maximized its capacity to 93 percent.

He has also mentioned the sector’s challenges which are lack of adequate logistics and power cut.

Walta learnt that cement factories in Ethiopia have created job opportunities for 10,000 citizens.

Source: Walta Information Center