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Key Points
- Bamburi Cement has unveiled a Ready-Mix plant in Mombasa to meet rising demand from major infrastructure and coastal housing developments.
- The new Bamburi Special Products facility can produce 120 cubic meters of concrete per hour and will supply specialized mixes for marine and high-strength projects.
- Bamburi’s expansion follows recovery efforts after a Ksh905 million ($7 million) net loss in 2024 due to forex losses.
Bamburi Cement Plc, a leading cement manufacturer now owned by Tanzanian businessman Edha Nahdi’s Amsons Group, has launched a new Ready-Mix (RMX) concrete plant in Mombasa County, Kenya’s second-largest city.
This effort marks Bamburi’s latest move to strengthen its market presence in the Coast region, leveraging innovation and strategic location to meet rising demand from infrastructure and housing developments while bolstering its financial recovery efforts.
Bamburi Cement responds to infrastructure boom
The new Bamburi Special Products (BSP) facility in Bamburi offers a production capacity of 120 cubic meters per hour, supported by transit mixers, mobile and fixed concrete pumps, and a mobile testing lab to deliver high-quality concrete for coastal projects.
Through this expansion, Bamburi Cement aims to support key projects such as the Mombasa-Malindi Highway, Dongo Kundu Bypass, Lamu-Garissa Highway, and the Lamu Port development, all of which require reliable, durable concrete solutions.
“The Coastal region is home to major infrastructure projects that demand world-class concrete quality. Our new plant will not only meet this demand but also help eliminate the use of substandard mixes, which have contributed to structural failures,” said Mokate George Ramafoko, Amsons Group Cement Cluster CEO, during the commissioning ceremony.
The plant will supply specialized concrete grades, including self-compacting, waterproof, and high-strength variants, alongside special chloride-resistant options designed for marine environments using Bamburi’s Duracem and Duraplus cement brands.
Bamburi pushes forward with bold expansion
Bamburi’s new plant comes at a critical time. The company recently reported a net loss of Ksh905 million ($7 million) for 2024, more than double the previous year's loss. This was largely driven by a Ksh1.43 billion ($11.04 million) forex impact from the $84 million sale of Uganda’s Hima Cement.
Revenue slipped slightly to Ksh21.9 billion ($169.12 million), down from Ksh22 billion ($169.89 million) in 2023. Weak market demand, adverse weather conditions, and political unrest all played a role in this decline. However, with Kenya’s construction sector projected to grow at over 5 percent annually through 2028, Bamburi is positioning itself for future growth, aiming to strengthen its role in key national infrastructure projects.
Since its acquisition by Amsons Group, Bamburi has expanded its local operations, with Ready-Mix plants and precast facilities now in Nairobi and Mombasa. Looking to the future, the company is ramping up investments, including a Ksh51 billion ($400 million) Integrated Clinker Plant in Matuga, Kwale County, as part of Amsons’ three-year expansion plan in Kenya.
