BASF, one of the world’s leading chemicals groups, opened its new concrete admixtures factory in Nairobi, Kenya. This is the group’s first major project in East Africa.
– We are now able to rapidly supply our customers with admixtures for all cement and aggregate types, whether their construction projects are located in the urban areas of Eastern Africa or in more remote sites – says Dick Purchase, head of BASF’s Regional Business Unit Construction Chemicals Middle East, West Asia, CIS and Africa.
Thus far, BASF had to import construction chemicals from German or the United Arab Emirates, which carried a high price tag.
– It takes a month to get material from Dubai to Nairobi, it takes six weeks to get material down to Dar es Salaam and eight weeks to go to Kampala; by having a factory here in Nairobi we will reduce this down to days thus speed of production is improved,” says Graham Dean, representative for BASF quoted by Capital FM.
He also adds that the opening of the new factory will consolidate the group’s portfolio in East Africa and address expectations of companies delivering major infrastructural projects in the region.
The Kenyan BASF factory is located at Mlolongo, and has a very good access to the road network and the port of Mombasa.
BASF is the largest chemicals company in the world. Its stock is traded on stock exchanges in Frankfurt, London and Zurich. The BASF Group comprises six large chemical complexes and 385 production sites across the world, as well as a number of affiliates and branches. BASF’ factory portfolio in Africa comprises production sites in RSA, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and now also in Kenya.
