EAPCC switches clinker supply contract

Kenya: East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) has severed a clinker supply contract, thought to be worth hundreds of thousands of US dollars, with Bamburi, its anchor shareholder. The decision marks the end of a four-year deal that had raised questions over potential conflicts of interest due to common shareholding and market rivalry of the two listed firms. Although EAPCC is a listed firm, it is considered a state corporation, with the majority of its shares held by the government. This makes it difficult to import its own clinker due to stringent Public Procurement Oversight Authority's rules.

The cement maker has now signed a new deal for supply of clinker with rival National Cement, which will see EAPCC save about US$3.10/t. EAPCC's managing director, Kephar Tande, said, "We found out that other players were offering lower prices, which means we could leverage on lower clinker costs to improve our profitability."

EAPCC's decision to single source the supply of clinker from Bamburi alone raised eyebrows when it was signed in 2007. Bamburi, through its parent company Lafarge, controls 41.7% of EAPCC. Lafarge also holds a 73% interest in Bamburi Cement and until 2009 held a 15% stake in the country's other cement maker, Athi River Mining. Cross ownership of the three cement companies has in the past led to accusations of unfair business practices, including collusion over price setting.

National Cement MD, Raval Narendra, said that EAPCC was now its biggest client. "We are the biggest clinker importers in the region now because we have established contacts in Europe and the Emirates. We signed a supply contract with EAPCC for 0.15Mt for 2011," he said.