Devki Opens Sh29bn Clinker Factory in West Pokot

After more than a decade of delays, financial challenges, and considerable patience, the long-awaited West Pokot cement factory has finally begun operations.

Named Cemtech Sebit Clinkerization Plant, the new factory at the Sebit limestone mines in Kipkomo Sub-County on the Kapenguria-Lodwar highway will process clinker instead of manufacturing cement as initially planned.

Once crushed at the new plant, the clinker, which is the main raw material in cement manufacturing, will be transported to a grinding plant in Eldoret town.

The Cemtech Sebit Clinkerization Plant was officially launched on April 8, 2024 in an event attended by President William Ruto.

The plant, which cost $220 million (Sh29 billion), has the capacity to process an estimated 6,000 tonnes of clinker daily, or about two million tonnes annually.

The project was launched in 2010 by Cemtech Ltd., a subsidiary of Sanghi Group of India, but failed to start after the company suffered financial difficulties.

In 2018, Cemtech said it had secured all the approvals to start phase one of the planned cement factory, marking a key milestone for the project.

However, construction did not take off, and in 2019, the company opted to sell the project to Simba Cement, a subsidiary of Devki Group, for an undisclosed amount.

Construction of the plant began in the last quarter of 2021.

According to Mining Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, the production capacity of Cemtech Sebit Clinkerization Plant is enough to supply all cement plants in Kenya.

“The production is enough feed for all cement plants in the country. The demand for this material will now be met with the excess available for export,” he said.

Kenyan factories have historically imported 60% of their clinker.

At present, only National Cement and Mombasa Cement manufacture clinker, while other manufacturers, including market leader Bamburi import it.

Devki is heavily investing in the production of cement amidst increasing demand from public infrastructure and home construction projects.

RELATED: Devki Shakes Up Nakuru Cement Market With Price Cuts

In 2020, the company opened a Sh5.8 billion cement plant in Salgaa, Nakuru. The plant has the capacity to produce up to 750,000 tonnes of Simba cement.

The factory employs more than 1,000 people.

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