Cimentos de Moçambique is investing $150 million in the modernisation and expansion of its factories in Nacala, Nampula province, Dondo, Sofala, and Matola, Maputo province, to scale up domestic clinker production — the primary input in cement manufacturing — and reduce the country's reliance on imports.
The company presented the investment programme at the 61st edition of the Maputo International Trade Fair (FACIM 2026), held from 31 August to 6 September, where it also sought to establish new commercial partnerships, identify suppliers, and engage prospective investors.
According to Cimentos de Moçambique commercial director Ailton Novele, the investments form part of a broader transformation of the company's industrial base. The company currently operates four factories in Mozambique. In Nacala, a major refurbishment project — amounting in scope to the construction of a new production unit — was recently completed, including the installation of a new kiln.
The Nacala kiln has a production capacity of 3,000 tonnes of clinker per day and was inaugurated by President Daniel Chapo last month. In Dondo, a kiln with an equivalent daily capacity of 3,000 tonnes has also been commissioned, while in Matola a kiln with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes per day has been rehabilitated and brought into operation.
'We are talking about major investments that have an enormous direct impact on the economy, specifically in terms of foreign exchange savings,' Novele said. The push for local clinker production is designed to reduce import dependence on the raw material and free up hard currency for other sectors of the economy.
Beyond import substitution, the investments are expected to generate employment. The Nacala unit alone is projected to create approximately 150 direct and indirect jobs, with the company anticipating comparable figures from the expanded operations in Dondo and Matola.
Job opportunities have also arisen during the construction and rehabilitation phases of the industrial units. The company says it is prioritising the hiring of local labour, including young workers, both at factory sites and at quarrying operations. 'In Nacala it was the same — both during the construction phase and the implementation phase there will be opportunities for more young Mozambicans,' Novele said.
Cimentos de Moçambique is also intervening further up its raw material supply chain. Refurbishment works are under way at a quarry in Mwanza, Gaza province, with local workers being engaged in that process as well. The company believes that increased domestic production capacity could make the cement industry more resilient and reduce the sector's exposure to import volatility.
FACIM 2026 attracted more than three thousand companies. Cimentos de Moçambique used its participation to showcase its industrial operations and the investments it has made across the country. The company's presence at the fair was also aimed at fostering new commercial partnerships, identifying suppliers and business opportunities, attracting potential investors, and raising awareness among young people about careers in engineering and industrial production.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/10/negocios/industria/facim-2026-cimentos-de-mocambique-investe-150-m-para-reforcar-producao-nacional-de-clinquer/
