Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone Cement Corp (Leocem), a subsidiary of HeidelbergCement, has cut its cement production as the growing number of Ebola cases halts construction work across the West African country.
"Ebola has brought the economy down on its knees," said head of marketing, Modupe Taylor-Pearce. "We have seen a reduction in our overall volumes from what it was in the first half of 2014." The rate of new Ebola cases hasn't slowed in Sierra Leone, according to Bruce Aylward, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) assistant director general in charge of the response to the deadly virus. He confirmed that cases had reached 3562 and that 1037 people had died by 26 October 2014. The other two most affected countries are Liberia and Guinea.
Monthly cement production in the West African country fell to 20,890t in August 2014 from 35,280t in May 2014, according to data from the Bank of Sierra Leone. Leocem is the only cement-producer based in the country, although Dangote Cement plans to set up a production plant there.
"Demand in the second half of 2014 has been lower than the first half," said Taylor-Pearce. "Road construction seems to have stopped. Many of the roads that were in the process of being done seem to have come to a halt." Raw materials, including limestone clinker, are in short supply in Sierra Leone as importers have reduced shipments. Transportation costs have increased as five of the 14 political districts in Sierra Leone are quarantined.
