[2008-07-22]  Lafarge to create 3,000 jobs
THE new Lafarge Zambia Plc, plant under construction once commissioned will create about 3,000 auxiliary jobs countrywide.

Lafarge Cement Zambia, managing director, Thomas Ehrhart said in an interview that the workforce from the old plant would be retained while about 3,000 jobs would be created to firms like trucking companies, suppliers and distributors.

“The multiplier effect in the economy will be quite large even though we would have a US$150 million plant with 150 workers. To support a plant like this, we would need about 2,000 to 3,000 people,” he said.

Mr Ehrhart also said 99 per cent of the people that will run the new plant would be Zambians while experts will only be engaged when equipment is bought to train the locals on operating the machinery.

He said more cement would be on the market next month as the company starts the production of clinker a raw material used for producing cement.

He said market dynamics would be expected to take care of the price of cement.

“In the last 18 months, we have seen that the price of retail cement has increased. This is a factor of supply and demand

“Zambia is a very good robust economy. We are seeing a lot of new projects coming on the market like housing, infrastructural and major developments in the mining sector,” he said.

Mr Ehrhart said economic developments taking place in the country have been accelerated over the last 18 months, resulting in demand of cement
He, however, observed that with the new plant, the challenge of meeting demand would be the thing of the past.

He said the new plant alone would produce the same amount of cement currently produced in Zambia.

“When the new plant is finished, cement available in Zambia will double. This will start in August. The impact of new cement on the market will be quite significant,” he said.

Mr Ehrhart also pointed out that during the last 18 months, the company has had to reduce exports to its traditional markets like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi to meet local demand.

He pointed out that because of contractual obligation, the company has not completely cut its exports to the two countries.

“With the new plant, production will double, not only will Zambia be met in terms of supply needed but the export market like DRC, Burundi, Rwanda and Malawi,” he said.

Mr Ehrhart, however, emphasised that tight control of exports will be maintained until such a time that the local market was completely filled with cement and retail prices reducing normal levels.






Source: © 2005 Zambia Daily Mail.