LAFARGE Cement Zambia has reduced cement exports by 15 per cent, to satisfy the local demand which has been triggered by the boom in the local construction industry.

Corporate affairs and communication director Eugene Chungu said the cement manufacturing firm is now only exporting 20 per cent of its monthly produce to five countries within Africa.

Lafarge Cement produces 90,000 tonnes of cement per month at its two plants in Ndola and Chilanga, with a combined capacity to produce 1,230,000 tonnes of cement per annum.

"In terms of exports, we have reduced from 35 per cent to 20 per cent of the total produce so that we focus on domestic consumption because the construction sector is booming," Mr Chungu said.

Lafarge exports cement to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which is the largest export market, Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

"The product has been received fondly on both the local and international market," Mr Chungu said.

Mr Chungu said the company has continued to carry out routine maintenance works on both cement plants to ensure that performance remained high.

"Both plants are operating progressively month by month and routine maintenance works scheduled and conducted to ensure that there is no disturbance in production," he said.