A new plant and two plant expansions are expected to commence operations this year in Ethiopia, ensuring the East African country’s cement output will increase by over 50 per cent. According to government officials, the construction boom is cited as a major incitement for this capacity increase.In a news report, Shimeles Wolde, head of the Chemical and Allied Industries Directorate in the Industry Ministry, has recently explained how the capacity increase is expected to help end the need for imports by as early as next year. Over the past few years, 1 million tpa of cement has been imported into Ethiopia to help meet the country’s 8 million tpa demand. Lafarge SA, the world’s largest cement manufacturer, and Dangote Cement Plc. Nigeria’s largest company by market value are among the 36 companies licensed by the Ethiopian government to help attain the 27 million tpa target set for 2015. Demand for cement may even be met by the end of next year, when the expected completion of 22 projects will increase annual production from 2.7 million tpa to 13.5 million tpa.