Angola to More Than Double Cement Output, Industry Association Chair Says

Angola plans to more than double cement production by 2013 in order to be self-sufficient in the building material, Industrial Association of Angola Chairman Jose Severino said.

Angola plans to renovate old plants and build new ones in different parts of the nation to raise output to as much as 7.5 million metric tons in two years, he said in an interview today in the capital, Luanda. The country currently produces 3.5 million tons annually, or half of its needs, he said.

The southeast African nation, which is reconstructing its infrastructure destroyed during the 27-year conflict that ended in 2002, imports the balance mostly from China.

“The quality of limestone and industrial processes” used by producers of some imported material can lower costs, “but without the desired quality,” Severino said of imported cement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Candido Mendes in Luanda at cmendes6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net