Cheetah Cement Botswana embarks on major expansion
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday March 16, 2026 06:00
As part of its growth strategy, and through the facilitation of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), the company has secured a 19-hectare site at Matabele in the Kgatleng District to develop a new cement manufacturing plant with a planned production capacity of 800,000 tonnes per annum. “This represents a significant increase from its current output and positions the company to meet and exceed Botswana’s estimated annual cement demand of approximately 600,000 tonnes,” said BITC officials. The new facility will utilise advanced dry-process technology designed to improve energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions, aligning industrial growth with environmental responsibility. Importantly, the plant will source fly ash from Morupule Power Plant in Palapye and nickel slag from the Matsiloje plant as key raw materials. This approach will strengthen domestic value chains while supporting waste beneficiation and industrial sustainability.
Once operational, the plant is expected to significantly reduce Botswana’s reliance on imported cement, keeping more value within the local economy and improving supply stability for the construction sector. The expansion is also significant from an employment perspective. Cheetah Cement Botswana currently employs 40 people, the majority of whom are citizens. During the construction phase of the new plant, approximately 515 jobs are expected to be created, including 390 local positions and 125 specialised expatriate roles required for technical expertise and plant construction. Beyond job creation, the project is expected to stimulate activity in transport, logistics, engineering services, and small and medium enterprises that support plant operations. Over time, skills transfer from technical experts to local professionals will further strengthen Botswana’s industrial capability. This initiative aligns with BITC’s strategic intent to create sustainable opportunities for investment and trade expansion. BITC has played a central role in facilitating the project and ensuring its timely progression. Through its investor aftercare services, the investment promotion agency works to mitigate implementation risks, coordinate government support, and maximise the economic impact of strategic investments.
In the case of Cheetah Cement Botswana, BITC has coordinated engagements with key institutions to streamline regulatory approvals and infrastructure readiness. These include facilitating environmental compliance processes with the Department of Environmental Protection, supporting access road development with the Department of Roads, and coordinating electricity and water supply arrangements with Botswana Power Corporation and Water Utilities Corporation. BITC has also worked with Kgatleng District Council to align the project with local development priorities and engaged Botswana Railways to support the efficient transportation of raw materials and finished products. This coordinated approach reflects BITC’s broader mandate to attract, retain and expand investment in priority sectors while ensuring that projects translate into tangible national benefits. As Botswana continues to pursue economic diversification beyond mining, investments of this scale in manufacturing are critical.
The Cheetah Cement expansion not only enhances domestic production capacity but also supports infrastructure development, job creation, skills transfer, and environmental sustainability. With strong institutional collaboration and proactive facilitation by BITC, the project stands as a clear example of how targeted investment support can unlock large-scale industrial growth and deliver measurable impact to the national economy. BITC continues to identify ways to grow industries through its facilitation services, with Cheetah Cement serving as one of many examples of its efforts to support investors and drive economic growth. Cheetah Cement Botswana, which is a subsidiary of Whale Rock Cement based in Namibia, currently operates a cement manufacturing plant in Matsiloje in the North-East District, producing 30,000 tonnes of Portland cement annually for the domestic market. The company supplies construction firms and hardware retailers, contributing to ongoing infrastructure and property development across the country. The expansion signals long-term confidence in Botswana’s economic growth prospects.