Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has inaugurated the Chinese-built Lemi National Cement Factory, the country’s largest of its kind with a production capacity of 150,000 quintals (15,000 tonnes) per day.
Inaugurating the mega cement factory on Saturday, Abiy said “the project exemplifies the swift and efficient delivery of crucial infrastructure.
“Congratulations to all those involved in realising this important project, which now produces 50 percent of the cement made by factories across the country.”
“Returning to this site after two years, I am astounded by the progress, which reflects our governance principles.
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“It shows that with hard work, future generations will not inherit poverty but a foundation for growth and prosperity,” the prime minister said in a statement.
Owned by a joint venture of West International Holding, the African arm of West China Cement, and East African Holding Company, the Lemi National Cement Factory was initially reported to cost 600 million U.S. dollars.
The factory is located at the Lemi Building Materials Industrial Park, some 150 km north of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Ahmed said replicating industrial projects like the Lemi National Cement Factory across the East African nation, the ripple effects in job creation and national development will be unmatched.
That, according to him, will be especially in the steel manufacturing and fertiliser production sectors, which can catalyse a broader industrial and agricultural revolution.
Noting that the challenges facing nations like Ethiopia require large-scale solutions, the Ethiopian PM said the joint cooperation between the private and public sectors was key to unlocking national opportunities and addressing the country’s most pressing problems.
“By investing in initiatives like this, we can uplift more people and ensure they live dignified lives,” Abiy said.
A key feature of the Lemi National Cement Factory is its advanced Pre-Heater system, a critical component contributing to the factory’s high production capacity. The Pre-Heater unit, installed in the main facility, is 160 meters long and plays a pivotal role in the cement production process. It prepares 10,000 tons of clinker per day by pre-heating the raw materials.
The Pre-Heater system is designed to heat the cement raw materials to a temperature of up to 950°C, ensuring they are adequately prepared for further processing. Once heated, these input products are transferred to the Rotary Kiln, the main combustion unit, where they undergo further transformation into clinker, a key ingredient in cement.
The efficiency of this system not only increases production but also reduces energy consumption, a major factor in cement manufacturing. The inclusion of such technology is a reflection of Ethiopia’s ongoing efforts to modernize its industrial sector with environmentally conscious solutions.
Prime Minister Abiy reiterated that projects like Lemi National Cement Factory could serve as catalysts for broader economic development. “The challenges facing nations like Ethiopia require large-scale solutions. The joint cooperation between the private and public sectors is key to unlocking national opportunities and addressing our most pressing problems. By investing in initiatives like this, we can uplift more people and ensure they live dignified lives.”
