Bamburi Cement Inks KSh32 Billion Deal to Build Greenfield Clinker Plant in Kwale
Bamburi Cement Plc has signed a US$250 million (about KSh32 billion) Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with Sinoma CBMI Construction Co., Ltd for the development of a state-of-the-art clinkerisation plant in Matuga, Kwale County, in one of the company’s largest industrial investments in recent years.
The new greenfield clinker factory, with a production capacity of 1.6 million tonnes per year, is expected to more than double Bamburi Cement’s clinker output from 1 million tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes, while increasing cement production capacity from 1.8 million tonnes to 4 million tonnes annually. The project is central to Bamburi’s strategy to achieve long-term clinker self-sufficiency and meet rising demand for cement driven by national infrastructure development.
Speaking during the EPC contract signing ceremony, witnessed by President William Ruto, Amsons Group Managing Director Edha Nahdi and Bamburi Cement Chairman John Simba, Bamburi Cement Chief Executive Officer Mohit Kapoor said the Matuga clinker plant represents a major step in positioning the company as a more competitive and future-ready cement producer.
“The construction of the new Matuga clinker plant, featuring best-in-class technology including a six-stage precalciner system, is one of the most significant investments by Bamburi Cement. It will greatly reduce reliance on imported clinker, save foreign exchange, stabilise pricing and ensure consistent supply to support Kenya’s growing infrastructure needs,” said Kapoor.
The project aligns closely with President Ruto’s recently unveiled 10-year national development roadmap, a KSh5 trillion plan to be financed through the National Infrastructure Fund, aimed at transforming Kenya into a first-world economy through large-scale investments in roads, rail, ports, airports and energy infrastructure.
Amsons Group Managing Director Edha Nahdi said the investment demonstrates the Group’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s long-term economic transformation.
“By signing this clinkerisation plant EPC contract, Amsons Group is putting its money where its mouth is. The success of the President’s ambitious infrastructure agenda will depend heavily on the local availability of quality cement and concrete products,” Nahdi said.
The Matuga clinker plant is expected to incorporate advanced, energy-efficient and low-emission technologies, including the use of Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials (AFR) such as coconut and cashew nut husks, as well as municipal solid waste sourced from the Coastal region.
These measures are aimed at reducing the plant’s carbon footprint and aligning Bamburi Cement’s operations with global climate and sustainability standards.
Beyond boosting production capacity, the project is expected to create employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases, stimulate local business participation and enhance economic activity in Kwale County and the wider Coastal region. It also supports the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by strengthening local manufacturing and industrialisation.
Sinoma CBMI Construction Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Building Material Group (CNBM), brings global expertise in cement plant engineering and construction, ensuring world-class project execution and operational reliability for the Matuga facility.
Once completed, the Matuga clinkerisation plant will serve as a cornerstone of Bamburi Cement’s integration into the Amsons Group’s regional operations, enhancing supply-chain efficiency, cross-border synergies and market resilience across East Africa.
The contract signing marks a transformative milestone for Bamburi Cement under the Amsons Group, signalling renewed investment in Kenya’s industrial base and a long-term commitment to sustainable growth and national development.