Shayona to stop clinker importation next year

Shayona Cement Corporation says it will stop importing clinker once the new plant currently under installation in Kasungu is operational between March and April next year.

Currently, the cement manufacturing firm imports additional clinker as it only manufactures 220 tonnes against the required 1 600 tonnes to produce cement.

Shayona public relations officer Rowland Mwalweni in an interview on Thursday in Kasungu said the first phase of installing new machines is already over and the machines are operating effectively.

“Now we have embarked on the second phase and we hope we will complete between March and April 2007,” he said on the sidelines of a familiarisation tour of the factory by Kasungu district commissioner Moses Chimphepo.

On his part, Chimphepo was impressed with the cement factory, saying it is contributing to the economic growth of the country by paying taxes, creating jobs and participating in corporate and social responsibility activities.

The employs about 1 200 people. n