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Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF), a company owned by Moroccan tycoon Anas Sefrioui, has announced its intention to produce limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) at multiple cement plants across West Africa.
The company’s parent, Omnium des Industries et de la Promotion (OIP), has unveiled plans to erect a state-of-the-art calcined clay production facility in Burkina Faso, a move set to fortify the supply chain for LC3 production in the region. For this purpose, OIP has successfully secured a 45-million-euro loan from the International Finance Corporation, an arm of the World Bank Group.
Of this money, 32.4 million euro is earmarked for constructing the highly anticipated calcined clay production facility. The remainder, a substantial 12.6 million euro, will be channeled into building solar power plants to power three prominent CIMAF subsidiaries in Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali. Such an investment in renewable energy underscores OIP and CIMAF’s commitment to the environment and further establishes their prominence in sustainable manufacturing practices in West Africa.
Sefrioui, the CEO of CIMAF, expressed his gratitude and optimism regarding the green loan in a press release, stating: “IFC’s green loan provides essential long-term financing for our projects in Africa. Through the green loan structure, we are bringing the best practices in financing decarbonization initiatives in the region. We look forward to reducing our carbon footprint and replicating these best practices in our African operations.”
LC3, a limestone and calcined clay blend, stands as a prominent green alternative to traditional cement. It reduces CO2 emissions by up to 30 percent and minimizes reliance on clinker, a primary component in cement whose production is notably carbon-intensive. As West Africa witnesses an uptick in infrastructural projects and urbanization, the demand for cement is anticipated to rise. CIMAF’s forward-thinking shift to LC3 will place them at the forefront of sustainable cement production in the region.
Moroccan businessman Anas Sefrioui is the founder of Casablanca-based property developer Douja Promotion Groupe Addoha.
