• The Katanda plant in Kasaï Oriental will have an annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes, with the first phase producing 300,000 tonnes.
  

• Cement prices in the province could fall from $24–30 per 50 kg bag due to local production.
  

• Combined with Cilu acquisition, WIH Cement could become the DRC’s leading cement producer with 2.2 million tonnes capacity.

The cement plant under construction in Katanda, Kasaï Oriental province, is scheduled to begin production in February 2026, according to interim governor Dr. Augustin Kayemba Mulemena during his inspection of the site on August 8.

Construction, which started in August 2024, currently focuses on the life base and staff offices. Some equipment has already arrived in Lubumbashi, while the remainder is expected from China by the end of August 2025. Foundations for steel structures, essential for the installation of production machinery, are underway.

The plant’s first phase, estimated at $400 million, will produce 300,000 tonnes per year, gradually increasing to its full 1.2 million tonnes capacity. Local cement prices, currently around $24 per 50 kg bag and rising to $30 at times due to logistical challenges, are expected to decline once production starts.

With this plant, the DRC could narrow its cement deficit, which stood at over 260,000 tonnes in 2023, according to the Central Bank of Congo. Coupled with WIH Cement’s acquisition of a 91% stake in Cimenterie de Lukala near Kinshasa, the company could reach a combined production capacity of 2.2 million tonnes per year, positioning it as the country’s leading cement producer.

This article was initially reported in French by Timothée Manoke (intern)

Adapted in English by Ola Schad Akinocho