WINDHOEK, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's biggest cement factory, the Chinese-invested Whale Rock Cement, expects full commissioning at the end of October, spokesperson Manfred /Uxamb said Friday.
At full production, the plant, built at a total cost of 350 million U.S. dollars, will produce 1.2 million tonnes of cement per annum under the Cheetah cement brand to become the biggest cement manufacturing plant in the country.
Production at the new cement plant, a joint venture between Chinese (China's Asia-Africa Business Management) and Namibian partners, started in April.
"Whale Rock Cement has already started with cement production in April and has entered the market in May 2018," /Uxamb said.
"Our plant is built for a global market from the start," /Uxamb said. "Our horizon is stretched and wherever needs arise, our cement will be there globally."
He said the major impact of Cheetah Cement's entry on the market is that cement prices will drop benefiting consumers.
Current demand in Namibia is estimated at about 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes per year.
The plant is expected to create around 600 jobs when operating at full capacity.
