Cement producer Sephaku Cement (SepCem) on Wednesday started producing clinker at its flagship Aganang integrated plant, in the North West, following the completion of the plant’s hot commissioning last week, Sephaku Holdings said in a statement on Thursday.
The plant start-up was initially expected in July but was delayed for a month after minor problems were identified on the plant fan system during hot commissioning.
To date, SepCem had been buying clinker to mill at its Delmas plant, where more than 60% of production capacity use had been achieved, to enable entry into the market, while strengthening sales functions in preparation for increasing volumes.
“The production of its own clinker is an important step for SepCem, enabling it to become a fully integrated producer of cement,” Sephaku CEO Dr Lelau Mohuba said in a statement earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Sephaku also announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Métier Mixed Concrete would be launching another 70 m3/h capacity plant, in Gauteng, next month.
The addition of this fourth plant in Gauteng would increase Métier’s production capacity footprint in Gauteng, bringing the total number of plants to 11.
“Although Métier anticipates that there will be pressure on margins with increased competition on significant contracts, it will continue to place emphasis on the specialised high-value concretes markets,” Sephaku said.