First announced in 2012, Tekcim’s cement plant in El Jadida, Morocco, is expected to open in 2019 with work to begin in a few months’ time, reports La Tribune.

To finance the project, Tekcim’s parent, SGTM Group, has approached the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the bank is expected to finalise the case in early summer.

The cement plant represents an investment of MAD2.5bn (US$252m). The project includes a 500ha quarry.