In brief
- On 11 January 2016, Somaliland Sun published an op-ed titled 'Somaliland: Berbera Cement Factory, a Sign of Hope'.
- The article's author, Mustafe Osman Adam, called the factory's re-establishment a priority and suggested an auction or domestic investment.
- The 2016 piece provides no contractor, funder, budget, contract value, or timeline for any Berbera cement plant.
On 11 January 2016, Somaliland Sun published an op-ed titled "Somaliland: Berbera Cement Factory, a Sign of Hope". The byline credited Mustafe Osman Adam, of the Department of Geology, Pure and Applied Science, International University of Africa, Sudan.
The author wrote that in 2012 Somaliland and Somalia together consumed 100,000 tons of imported cement, while the Berbera Cement Plant had a capacity of 200,000 tons per year. These figures are attributed to the article; the author did not cite a source for the consumption number.
The piece framed the plant's revival as a priority. "The re-establishment of Berbera Cement Factory must be regarded as a priority, in which we must organize committees and make strategies to operate it," the author wrote. He projected that "a factory such as Berbera Cement Factory would provide jobs for nearly five thousand workers," but this is the author's projection, not an official plan.
The article outlined possible paths. Government financing, the author assessed, is "outside the scope of the financial capacity of the government at the present time." He proposed an auction: the government would award a license to operate and manage the factory "under the tutelage of the state." Alternatively, domestic investment through capable local companies was suggested, though the author warned this "may create a difficult competition, or a split inside the corridors of the community."
Geological claims appear as background. The author cited the Guban Basin as containing more than 3000 metres of sedimentary sections and covering areas of 100 to thousands of square kilometres. He listed limestone, sandstone, clay, coal and other economic mineral ores among resources in the northern coast/Guban area. The article does not present a feasibility study or survey confirming cement-grade limestone.
What the 2016 article does not establish is any action since publication. It names no contractor, consultant, client, funder, contract value, budget or construction timeline for a Berbera cement plant. It does not state whether the plant remains operational, whether any auction or licensing process took place, or whether any jobs were created. Somaliland Sun's op-ed remains a proposal, not a project record.
Frequently asked questions
What is the status of the Berbera Cement Factory?
The 2016 op-ed does not say whether the plant is operational. It reports a past capacity of 200,000 tons per year and calls for re-establishment, but no current status is given.
Who is behind the factory development?
The 2016 article names no company or government agency. It proposes an auction or domestic investment, but no investor, contractor or funder is identified.
What production capacity is expected?
Somaliland Sun reported the plant had a capacity of 200,000 tons per year. The author does not state whether that capacity still exists or would be rebuilt.