Africa, as a continent with 20 percent of the world's population, has lagged behind other parts of the world in energy consumption for several decades. This continent accounts for only 5 percent of global energy supply. However, Africa is now becoming a leader in the cement industry, which is considered one of the fundamental and vital industries for industrialization. Currently, 16 African countries are building new cement plants.
Growth of Cement Production Capacity in Africa
According to data from the Global Energy Monitor (GEM), African countries now account for 42 percent of the new cement production capacity under construction worldwide. The annual cement production capacity in Africa reaches about 441 million tons, which constitutes 8 percent of the total global capacity. However, in addition to this, 43.3 million tons of new capacity is under construction, and African countries have planned for an additional 23 million tons, which will increase the total cement production capacity in this continent to over 507 million tons.
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The Role of Nigeria and Other Countries
Nigeria is leading in terms of capacity under construction in the African continent, with 10 million tons of new capacity being built, ranking second globally only after India. Dangote Cement Plc, as the largest cement producer in Africa, is implementing a $1 billion expansion strategy across the continent by 2030. The company is upgrading its export terminals in Lagos to increase exports to neighboring West and Central African countries.
Additionally, BUA Cement is seeking to catch up with its competitors with a $1.05 billion investment, aiming to achieve a production capacity of 80 million tons per year by 2030. Under an engineering agreement with the Chinese company Sinoma CBMI, it is constructing three new cement plants, each with a capacity of 3 million tons per year, bringing its total annual production capacity to 20 million tons.
In Cameroon, Taiwan Cement Corporation, along with its subsidiary CIMPOR, has recently completed a 1.2 million ton cement plant that reduces pollutant emissions by 40 percent. Furthermore, Heidelberg Materials is constructing the largest calciner in Ghana.
The cement industry in Kenya is also experiencing a major wave of mergers and multi-billion shilling expansions, as the country seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in clinker production. The Devki Group is investing $385 million to build the first cement and clinker plant in Kitui County.
Africa is also developing digital infrastructure such as data centers and mineral processing, which requires more energy. Energy demand in this continent is expected to rise rapidly, with the IEA forecasting that net energy demand will increase from 799 terawatt-hours in 2025 to 880 terawatt-hours in 2027.
This increase in energy demand could provide new opportunities for cement producers, as these companies require stable and reliable energy and may turn to producing part of their own energy needs. For example, Bestway Cement in Pakistan is installing solar power plants at its five factories in an effort to reduce dependence on the unreliable national grid.
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