Cimerwa Cement Limited

Cement manufacturer in Rwanda

Cimerwa Cement LimitedType| Private

|

Industry| Manufacture of Construction Materials
Founded| January 1, 1982; 41 years ago (1982-01-01)
Headquarters| Bugarama, Rwanda

Key people

| Regis Rugemanshuro
Chairman[1]
Albert Kipkemoi Sigei
Executive Director[2]
Products| Cement
Website| Homepage

Cimerwa Cement Limited (CCL) is a manufacturer of cement in Rwanda with capacity of approximately 600,000 tones per year.[3]

## Location[edit]

The main factory of the company is located in Muganza Sector, in the town of Bugarama, in Rusizi District, in the Western Province of Rwanda.[4] This location is approximately 33.5 kilometres (20.8 mi), by road, south-east of the city of Cyangugu, the largest urban center in Rusizi District, and the location of the district headquarters.[5] The coordinates of the main factory of Cimerwa are: 02°36'25.0"S, 29°01'03.0"E (Latitude:-2.606944; Longitude:29.017500).[6] The company also maintains offices in the city of Kigali, the capital and largest city of Rwanda.[4]

## Overview[edit]

The installed factory capacity is 600,000 metric tonnes annually. Prior to 2018, the factory was performing at under 60 percent capacity (approximately 350,000 metric tonnes annually).[3] In 2018, the factory was upgraded and increased its performance to approximately 74 percent of installed capacity (approximately 441,223 metric tonnes annually).[7] The upgrade cost US$3.3 million, and lasted 26 days.[8]

Prior to the 2018 upgrade, Cimerwa could produce 27,000 metric tonnes monthly, or approximately 54 percent of the 50,000 metric tonnes needed monthly to satisfy Rwanda's cement needs.[9] With production of an expected 441,223 metric tonnes after the upgrade, it is expected cement importation into Rwanda will reduce.[7]

The factory uses imported coal from Malawi and Tanzania, to fuel its kilns.[8]

## History[edit]

The company was established in 1982, with capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes annually. It was managed by a Chinese company, CBMC, under a "build-own-operate-transfer" model. During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, plant operations were suspended and 53 employees died. In 2001, plant capacity was increased to 100,000 metric tonnes annually.[10]

In 2006, Cimerwa was privatized under the Rwanda Investment Group. Ownership transferred to several Rwanda-based institutions. PPC Limited acquired a 51 percent ownership in Cimerwa, for US$69.4 million in 2013. In 2015, the company assumed a new corporate identity to reflect the new ownership.[10]

## Products[edit]

As of May 2020, CIMERWA produced four types of portland cement; namely 1. SUREBUILD, a 42.5N premium cement meant for heavy construction projects 2. SURECEM, a 32.5N all-purpose cement ideal for concrete, mortar, plaster and brick joinery 3. SUREROAD, another 32.5N product, is a custom-made cement meant for road construction and 4. SUREWALL, is a 22.5X masonry cement specifically designed for plastering and brick joinery.[2]

## Previous ownership[edit]

Before November 2023, Cimerwa Cement Limited operated as a 51 percent subsidiary of Pretoria Portland Cement Company (PPC Limited), a South African cement-manufacturing conglomerate, whose shares of stock are traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.[11] The table below illustrates the shareholding in the company, as of June 2019.[12] As of June 2019, the entire 49 percent shareholding owed by Rwandan shareholders was up for sale.[12]

Cimerwa Cement Limited Stock Ownership  Rank | Name of Owner | Percentage Ownership

|
|

1 | Pretoria Portland Cement Company of South Africa | 51.00
2 | Government of Rwanda | 16.54
3 | Rwanda Social Security Board | 20.24
4 | Rwanda Investment Group | 11.45
5 | Sonarwa Group | 0.76
| Total | 100.00

Pretoria Portland Cement Company controls eleven cement factories and a lime manufacturing facility in six African countries including South Africa, Botswana, Ethiopia and Rwanda.[2]

## Current Ownership[edit]

In November 2023, the shareholders in the business signed share purchase agreements selling 99.9 percent shares of stock in the company to National Cement Holdings Limited (National Cement), based in Kenya, with subsidiaries in Kenya, Uganda and now Rwanda. The deal that requires regulatory approval in South Africa, Rwanda and COMESA, is expected to close in Q1 2024.[1]

## See also[edit]

* List of cement manufacturers in Rwanda

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b TEA (21 November 2023). "National Cement Holdings Ltd acquires 99.9pc stake in CIMERWA, Rwanda's top cement producer". The EastAfrican (TEA). Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
2. ^ a b c Glory Iribagiza (30 May 2020). "New CIMERWA boss speaks out on rebranding the firm's products". New Times (Rwanda). Kigali. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
3. ^ a b Bizimungu, Julius (29 August 2017). "Government moves to attract more cement makers to boost local production". New Times (Rwanda). Kigali. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
4. ^ a b Cimerwa Cement (22 April 2018). "Cimerwa Cement Limited: Contact". Bugarama, Rwanda: Cimerwa Cement Limited. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
5. ^ Google (23 November 2023). "Road Distance Between Cyangugu, Rwanda And Cimerwa Factory, Muganza, Rwanda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
6. ^ Google (23 November 2023). "Location of the Main Factory of Cimerwa Cement Limited, Muganza Sector, Bugarama, Rwanda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
7. ^ a b Kabona, Esiara (22 April 2018). "Cimerwa resumes cement production after break". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
8. ^ a b Bizimungu, Julius (2 May 2018). "Cimerwa explains hike in cement prices". New Times (Rwanda). Kigali. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
9. ^ Moses Gahigi, and Esiara Kabona (26 February 2017). "Cement companies scramble for a piece of Rwandan market". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
10. ^ a b PPC Limited (22 April 2018). "History of Cimerwa" (PDF). Pretoria Portland Cement Company (PPC Limited). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
11. ^ Pericles Anetos (4 January 2017). "Bheki Mthembu to lead PPC unit in Rwanda". Business Day (South Africa). Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
12. ^ a b Moses K. Gahigi (25 June 2019). "Majority shareholder PPC Group could buy Rwanda stake in Cimerwa". The EastAfrican. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 25 June 2019.

## External links[edit]

* Website of Cimerwa Cement Limited
* Rwanda cement maker Cimerwa doubles net profit to $3.9m As of 20 December 2021.

02°36′25″S 29°01′03″E﻿ / ﻿2.60694°S 29.01750°E﻿ / -2.60694; 29.01750