INTERCEM Africa 2026

INTERCEM Africa began with a visit to CBI Ghana's pioneering calcined clay facility, described at the event as the world's largest industrial-scale flash calciner. The facility represented an investment of more than $100 million by an independent family-owned company and demonstrated the commercial application of lower-carbon cement technology at industrial scale.

More than 120,000 tonnes of calcined clay had already been produced, enabling approximately 500,000 tonnes of LC3 cement. Delegates saw the facility's calcined clay processing and colour control systems, laboratory testing and quality assurance programmes, alongside the work being undertaken to optimise clinker substitution rates and produce multiple LC3 cement grades for the market.

The visit also demonstrated the work behind establishing a local calcined clay supply chain, including the analysis of thousands of clay samples and development of mining models. Greater use of locally sourced materials offered the potential to reduce clinker imports while lowering the carbon intensity of cement production in West Africa.

West Africa's growing population, urbanisation and housing requirements provided the backdrop to discussions around future cement demand. At the same time, the region's dependence on imported clinker continued to expose producers to freight volatility, foreign exchange pressures, geopolitical disruption and changes in international supply.

Greater use of locally available raw materials was presented as one route towards reducing that exposure. The discussion connected future cement capacity with the need to improve competitiveness, strengthen local supply and reduce clinker dependency as regional consumption increases.

LC3 and calcined clay formed one of the strongest technical themes of INTERCEM Africa 2026. With more limited availability of conventional SCMs in parts of Africa, calcined clay was examined as a scalable option for lowering the clinker factor while supporting continued growth in cement production.

The potential extended beyond carbon reduction. Increasing the use of local materials could reduce reliance on imported clinker, limit exposure to freight and foreign exchange movements and improve regional trade balances. Discussion focused increasingly on implementation, including the investment, standards and market adoption required to deploy LC3 at greater scale.

The industry's net zero transition was considered through the practical measures required to move from emissions targets towards implementation. SCM adoption, carbon markets, CCUS, policy and financing were examined as different parts of the industry's wider decarbonisation roadmap.

Commercial viability remained central to the discussion. Investment decisions around lower-carbon production needed to account for competitiveness and profitability as well as emissions reductions, with questions remaining around financing structures, carbon pricing and the pace at which different technologies could be deployed across developing markets.

The panel explored the achievements of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) and its growing potential as a practical pathway to lower-carbon cement production. Speakers who have already deployed LC3 in the region discussed progress in developing LC3 standards, production capacity and commercial applications, alongside the benefits of reducing clinker content while making greater use of locally available limestone and clay resources. The discussion highlighted LC3's particular relevance to emerging markets where demand for affordable, lower-carbon cement is increasing.

The panel also examined the challenges to scaling LC3 from successful projects to wider industrial adoption. Key considerations included the availability and quality of suitable clay, investment in calcination and production infrastructure, standards and certification, market acceptance and the economics of switching from conventional cement production. Speakers considered what is needed to accelerate deployment and realise the potential of LC3 cement as a commercially viable, lower-carbon alternative.

The panel brought together regional cement producers and industry stakeholders to examine the changing dynamics of Africa's cement markets, with perspectives on demand growth, domestic production, clinker supply, pricing and regional trade. Expoerts in production, trading, logistics, and strategy highlighted the opportunities created by Africa's infrastructure and urbanisation needs, while also considering the challenges of building competitive local capacity and reducing reliance on imported materials.

The discussion also explored how producers are responding to changing market conditions through investment, supply-chain strategies and greater use of locally available resources. Alongside the commercial outlook, speakers considered the role of regulation, industrial policy and decarbonisation in shaping the future of cement production across Africa, offering practical perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing regional producers.

Shipping and logistics discussions examined the cost and availability of moving clinker and other materials into West African markets. Competing clinker supply routes were assessed against changing freight conditions, while port efficiency and infrastructure capacity remained important considerations for importers and producers.

The programme also considered how additional port capacity could be delivered, including a public-private development model from Egypt and its potential relevance to West Africa. With many regional markets dependent on imported materials, port investment and efficient logistics remained closely connected to cement availability and landed costs.

Financing new cement and lower-carbon production capacity required projects to satisfy both industrial and investment requirements. The discussion brought producer and investment perspectives together around project risk, available finance and the conditions required to support industrial development across West Africa.

The transition towards lower-clinker cement added another investment requirement as producers considered new processing technologies and local raw materials. Financing structures, policy support and commercial returns remained important factors in determining how quickly these projects could move from technical potential to industrial deployment.