Gypsum industry news

Tanzania: Knauf Gypsum Tanzania says that it plans to more than double the production capacity of its 15Mm²/yr gypsum wallboard plant in Mkuranga, Pwani Region, to 43Mm²/yr. IPP Media News has reported that the company's planned investment in the project as US$49.3m. The producer expects that the expanded Mkuranga gypsum wallboard plant will increase its annual gypsum wallboard exports by 170%. When commissioned in 2025, the plant will be the largest in East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Tanzania: Knauf Gypsum Tanzania is set to benefit from a new connection to the Madimba natural gas pipeline as part of a project by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC). The project plans to connect local industries in the Mkurunga area, south of Dar es Salaam, to the pipeline, according to the Citizen newspaper. Knauf Gypsum Tanzania and Lodhia Steel Industries have agreed to be connected soon after the installation of electricity is completed.

Georgious Zachopoulos, the managing director of Knauf Gypsum Tanzania, said that he expects the plant to save at least US$3m by switching to natural gas from coal. At present the unit sources coal from the Iringa region. Moving to natural gas is also expected to increase the lifetime of the machines at the plant and reduce its emissions. The plant expects to start using natural has by the end of 2019.