A consortium of local quarry operators and institutional investors have applied to the environmental agency for permission to put up a Sh5 billion cement plant in Athi River.
Regulatory filings in the Kenya Gazette show Global Choice Ltd has finalised plans to put up a grinding plant with an annual cement production capacity of one million metric tonnes.
Public relations manager George Wambugu said the group is waiting for the nod from National Environment Management Authority (Nema) before making payments for the importation of the machinery.
The proposed plant targets local and East African market and once approved will take 18 months to complete with its cement sold under the brand name Premier Cement.
“Global Choice Cement Ltd is a wholly owned Kenyan joint venture between individual and institutional investors that expect to break ground on its newly acquired parcel of land at Athi River early next month,” he said.
The Nema has invited written comments and oral submissions within the next 30 days to enable them to determine whether the new factory should be set up.
Mr Wambugu said clinker, a key ingredient in cement making, would be imported and transported via the standard gauge railway while pozzolana and gypsum will be locally sourced, creating new revenue streams for quarry owners.
The cement grinding plant will apply the roller-press technology to produce 3,000 tonnes of cement a day.
Athi River host to six cement factories including Bamburi #ticker:BAMB, ARM Cement #ticker:ARM, Savannah, National Cement, East African Portland Cement Company Ltd #ticker:PORT and Mombasa Cement.
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