PLANT READY FOR COMMISSIONING
PPC Barnet DRC’s $280-million integrated cement plant at Kimpese, in Bas-Congo province, is on target for commissioning by the end of 2016
Photo by: Bloomberg
Supplier of cement and related products PPC Barnet Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) $280-million integrated cement plant at Kimpese, in Bas-Congo province, is on target for commissioning by the end of 2016.
The project team is moving to the next phase of construction, with the civil work scheduled for completion by the end of September. Structural steelwork and mechanical erection have begun on the preheater tower, the kiln piers, the clinker cooler, the incoming material conveyors, the raw material stackers and the reclaimers, as well as the crushers.
PPC Barnet DRC MD Craig Waterson notes that, once fully commissioned, the plant will have a production capacity of one-million tons of premium-quality PPC-branded cement a year and is expected to reach this production milestone by 2018.
“This will prove a game changer for the region and the country, as the DRC is currently a net importer of cement,” he says. With infrastructure development a priority in Central Africa, and investment by government and the private sector reflecting the region’s positive growth rate, the plant’s construction has created significant interest within and beyond the country’s borders.
Power from the national grid will also be available on site by the end of June next year. “The orders for the transformers, substation and PPC switchyard have been placed, and design and engineering are in progress,” says Waterson. Power supply will also be extended to nearby villages.
The plant is well placed to service not only the Kinshasa market but also the southern provinces of Congo Central and Bandundu, which border on Bas-Congo. The port at Kinshasa also offers access to the Congo river, providing a route to the interior of the country.
The company notes that the impact is also being felt at local level in terms of job creation and overall social and community upliftment. The PPC Barnet DRC Technical School (Centre de Formation Technique) celebrated the graduation of its first intake of students at the end of the September. The students hope to pursue careers in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Roads in and around the plant have also been upgraded and a bridge has been built to improve transport infrastructure in the region.
“PPC Barnet DRC’s investment in the country and the region is a long-term commitment based on the potential and promise we see in the economy here. We invite government and private-sector stakeholders to continue to be part of our journey in the DRC and partner with us to build a thriving economy,” adds Waterson.