Malawi/Zambia: China-based Huaxin Cement plans to spend US$160m towards buying cement plants in Zambia and Malawi. It intends to spend US$150m on purchasing a 75% stake in Lafarge Zambia and US$10m on acquiring Pan African Cement from Lafarge Cement Malawi. The former operates two integrated cement plants in Zambia with a combined production capacity of 1.5Mt/yr. The latter operates a 0.25Mt/yr grinding plant at Blantyre in Malawi. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in each of the relevant countries.
