Derba MIDROC Cement plc, Ethiopia is expected to start test production in the coming week. The factory is 100 per cent complete and has undergone individual unit testing according to Tadesse Kebede, Project Director. It is expected that the factory will be fully operational for commissioning in ten days he said.

The factory is equipped with state of the art technology noted Bedri Vencatesh Deputy General Manager of Holtech Consulting, Indian consultants.

Machinery for the factory was imported from France and Germany and installation was carried out by China National Building Materials.

Derba has sold a carbon credit policy which is expected to earn four to five million Euros every year according to Haile Assegide, MIDROC Executive Director for Major Investment Projects.   

It is to be remembered that Derba has announced plans to offer 60 day credit to contractors for 50 per cent of payment and an unconditional bank guarantee. The factory is expected to join the cement industry in Ethiopia within a month.

Contractors can utilize the arrangement indefinitely as long as the bank guarantee is in place said Haile Assedeie Chief Executive Office or Derba.

Derba will offer the same terms to private individuals provided that the organizations that they are employed by can put up similar guarantees.

The cement producer will also offer 5 day delivery services to customers within a radius of 600 Km from Addis Ababa. The company expects to widen its delivery radius after two months to encompass all parts of the country according to Haile.