Ghana has just inaugurated the world’s largest cement plant using calcined clay in Tema, a $110 million investment by CBI Ghana Ltd. This plant marks a symbolic milestone in the country’s industrialization strategy and its transition to lower-carbon building materials.
A Giant Plant for Low-Carbon Cement
Located in the Tema Free Trade Zone, the new cement plant has an annual capacity of approximately 1.5 million tons of cement, including nearly 400,000 tons of calcined clay cement. Calcined clay allows for the replacement of a significant portion of clinker, a very energy-intensive component of traditional cement, thus substantially reducing CO₂ emissions per ton produced.
Thanks to this technology, Ghana has positioned itself immediately among the pioneers of “green cement” in Africa, relying on local clay resources instead of massive clinker imports. This substitution reduces the country’s foreign exchange bill while strengthening the resilience of the supply chain.
A key lever for industrialization and employment
Beyond the technological innovation, the project is presented by President John Dramani Mahama as a pillar of Ghana’s new phase of industrialization. The plant is designed to operate continuously, 24 hours a day, which is fully in line with the vision of a “24/7 economy” championed by the Head of State.
The cement plant has already generated more than one hundred direct skilled jobs (engineers, technicians, operators) and more than 1,000 indirect jobs in logistics, clay extraction, transportation, and related services. With housing and infrastructure needs on the rise, this momentum is expected to permeate the entire construction ecosystem in Ghana.
Reducing imports, strengthening industrial sovereignty
Until now, a large portion of Ghana’s clinker needs were met through imports, at a high cost to the balance of payments. By substituting a significant fraction of this clinker with locally produced calcined clay, the country reduces its dependence on imports by at least 10% and retains more added value within its borders.
Ghanaian authorities also emphasize that the cement produced complies with the rules of origin of the AfCFTA. In other words, this “made in Ghana” cement can be exported to other African markets while benefiting from the trade preferences provided by the continental free trade area.
A Strong Signal for the Ecological Transition in Africa
The inauguration of this calcined clay cement plant comes at a time when the cement industry is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, given its significant share of global construction-related emissions. By investing in this technology, Ghana is sending a strong signal: African industrialization can be combined with carbon neutrality and innovation.
President Mahama reiterated the government’s objective of increasing the manufacturing sector’s share of GDP to at least 15% by 2030, relying on structuring projects like this cement plant. This type of investment concretely illustrates how industrial policy, the energy transition, and regional integration can mutually reinforce each other.
What are the implications for the West African cement market?
With the sustained increase in demand for cement in West Africa, this plant positions Ghana as a future regional hub for low-carbon cement exports. On the other side, giants like Dangote Cement and other regional producers are also multiplying their expansion projects, signaling increased competition on price, quality, and environmental footprint.
For neighboring countries, the Ghanaian example could accelerate the adoption of similar technologies, particularly in countries with suitable clay deposits. For investors and construction companies, this new capacity opens up prospects for more controlled costs, greater security of supply, and access to construction materials more aligned with the ESG requirements of international donors.
