CBI Ghana hits global milestone as President John Mahama commissions world’s largest calcined clay plant

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

Product	Specification	Primary Use
Road Stabilisation Cement	Custom	Improves Strength and Versatility: Ideal for stabilized road layers and robust sub-bases in both flexible and rigid pavements, with excellent performance and durability with different soil classes.
SupaHard	52.5N	Ready-Mix concrete, Specialized and Hydraulic Water-retaining Structures with enhanced durability (sulphate and chloride resistance).
SupaPower	42.5R	Heavy Infrastructure: Bridges, dams, marine projects, and high-density concrete.
SupaFast	32.5R	General Construction: Fast-setting cement for block-laying, screeding, and plastering.
Bulk Cement	Custom	Mega Projects: 24-hour rapid delivery for roads and public infrastructure.

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