CBI Ghana Ltd. made history on 5th March 2026, with the official commissioning of the world’s largest calcined clay plant. This landmark facility, located in the Tema Free Zones Enclave, represents a US$110 million investment that revolutionizes Ghana’s construction landscape through sustainable innovation. By pioneering Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) technology, CBI Ghana is reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported clinker, of which Ghana is Africa’s leading importer. This shift to locally sourced clay will help strengthen the Ghana Cedi and position Ghana as the global Centre of Excellence for green construction.
Key Speech Excerpts
From H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana: “What CBI Ghana has built here is a statement about Ghanaian potential. For decades, our industrial growth has faced a punishing import bill that grew on a culture of exporting raw materials and importing finished goods. Today, we are proving that responsible African industrialisation is possible. I see the engineers, the technicians, and the laboratory staff here; Ghana’s industrial future will be built by your hands.”
From Frédéric Albrecht, Managing Director of CBI Ghana Ltd: “The eyes of the cement world are on Ghana as we set a new global standard for sustainable construction. Every year, Ghana spends close to half a billion US dollars importing clinker. That is hard currency that can stabilize our local currency.
From this plant, the largest of its kind in the world, we are replacing imported clinker with locally produced calcined clay. Which enables us to cut carbon emissions by up to 40%, similar to taking 80,000 cars off the road every year. We did not build this plant for CBI alone; we built it to inspire the cement world and ensure Ghanaian scientists lead the way in sustainable construction.”
Fact Sheet: The “World’s Largest” Status
- Global Leadership: This facility is officially the world’s largest Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) plant.
- Production Capacity: 400,000 tons of calcined clay per year.
- Efficiency: Advanced packing technology packs up to 10 bags at a time, loading a 40-ton truck in just 25 minutes.
- Economic Impact: Significantly reduce clinker imports of about 400,000 tons, which is equivalent to 10 vessels per year. This:
- supports domestic value chains
- supports high-skilled job creation in labs and on the factory floor
- retains important foreign exchange.
The LC3 Advantage: Sustainability & Carbon Reduction
- 40% CO₂ Reduction: LC3 technology delivers a massive decrease in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional cement.
- Energy Efficiency: Calcined clay requires significantly lower thermal energy during production than traditional clinker.
- Climate Goals: This facility is a primary engine driving Ghana’s national climate and sustainability goals in the construction sector.
Technical Excellence: Why LC3?
CBI Ghana’s LC3 cement is engineered for superior performance in Ghana’s tropical and coastal environments:
- Durability: Enhanced resistance makes it ideal for marine and high-density projects.
- Workability: Excellent consistency for both mass concrete and precision block production.
- Structural Integrity: Meets and exceeds all structural performance requirements set by the Ghana Standards Authority.
Product Line-Up
Executive Leadership
- Frédéric Albrecht (Managing Director): Expert in economics and industrial project development.
- Kobby Adams (Commercial Director): Experienced leader in African building material markets.
- Rémi Touvet (Industrial Director): 24 years of global building material expertise.Justinica Zah (CFO): Finance and strategy leader with over 13 years’ experience in the cement industry
- Dora Madonna Dery: Seasoned HR leader with over 15 years’ experience.
President Mahama receiving a tour of the new plant
President Mahama and other dignitaries cut the tape to officially open the new calcined clay cement plant by CBI Ghana
H.E. John Dramani Mahama, delivering a speech at the unveiling of the calcined clay plant in Tema
Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Trade Minister delivering some remarks at the event
H.E. Simone Giger, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana giving remarks at the event
Dignitaries and CBI executives at the official unveiling of the plant
Dignitaries and CBI executives at the official unveiling of the plant
Frédéric Albrecht, Managing Director of CBI Ghana Ltd giving remarks
Hakan Gurdal, Member of the Managing Board at Heidelberg Materials speaking at the event
Dr. Katharina Beumelburg, Chief Sustainability & New Technologies Officer of Heidelberg
