Internationalisation and regionalisation of the cement value chain in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Speaker: Divin-Luc Bikubanya
Over the past seventy years, the cement industry has undergone significant transformations, encompassing periods of both industrialisation (1955s) and de-industrialisation (1960s to 2020s) and subsequent re-industrialisation (since 2021). The primary challenge confronting the sector is its persistent inability to expand and attain competitiveness at the regional level. The present study examines these dynamics, with a particular focus on the internationalisation (in terms of investment origin and technology transfer) and regionalisation (in terms of raw material flow) of the cement sector. The analysis draws upon case studies of cement plants in Katana (45 km from Bukavu, South-Kivu) and Kabimba (60 km from Kalemie, Tanganyika). The cement industry is characterised by a high degree of integration within Regional Value Chains (RVCs), a factor that exerts a substantial influence on the supply of cement, its raw materials (e.g. pozzolana and limestone), its intermediate products (e.g. clinker) and its derivative products (e.g. concrete). The discussion herein encompasses the aforementioned aspects in the context of contemporary regional political and economic dynamics, and their repercussions on export, import, and pricing patterns.