The first limestone extraction blast under Project Albatros took place in December 2025 in Lubudi, in the Lualaba province. The project results from a partnership between Ciments du Katanga (Cimentkat or Cimenkat) and PPC Barnet RDC and focuses on the exploitation of a high-grade limestone deposit owned by Cimentkat.

According to the chief executive officer of PPC Barnet RDC, the initial objective is to extract at least 600,000 tons of crushed limestone per year, with a gradual move toward the production of limestone powder and lime. These products serve as key inputs for the construction materials industry and for various industrial applications.

Lubudi holds a long-standing place in the cement industry of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cimentkat has operated industrial facilities in the area since its creation in 1922. After supplying construction materials for decades to support industrial development in Katanga, the company saw its activity decline steadily, leading to a production halt more than ten years ago.

“The restart of Cimentkat is now a reality through Project Albatros,” said Léon Mwine, chairman of Cimentkat’s board of directors.

PPC Barnet RDC is a joint venture between South Africa’s PPC Ltd and the Congolese group Barnet. The company operates an integrated cement plant in Kimpese, in the Kongo Central province, with an estimated annual production capacity of about 1.2 million tons of cement.

Boaz Kabeya