NAIROBI, KENYA – Bamburi Cement PLC has launched DURAPLUS, a high-strength, eco-friendly cement, marking a significant strategic move towards sustainable construction in East Africa. The product's release on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, comes as Kenya intensifies its focus on green building practices, underscored by the full implementation of the new National Building Code 2024, which became effective on 1 March 2025.

Strength Meets Sustainability in a New Formula DURAPLUS CEM III/A 42.5 N is engineered to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 45% compared to traditional Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). This substantial reduction is achieved by intergrinding Portland cement clinker with ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), a by-product from the steel manufacturing industry, thereby embracing circular economy principles. According to Bamburi Cement, this innovation does not compromise on strength. The company's technical specifications indicate that DURAPLUS provides high early and long-term strength, making it suitable for large-scale infrastructure projects. It also features low heat of hydration, which minimizes the risk of thermal cracking in large concrete pours, and enhanced resistance to chlorides and sulphates, making it ideal for projects in harsh environments such as coastal regions or geothermal areas. These properties position the product for use in deep foundations, dams, bridges, and reservoirs.

Aligning with Kenya’s Green Agenda The launch is strategically timed. The Kenyan government is actively promoting sustainable development as a cornerstone of its Vision 2030 blueprint, which aims to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country. The construction sector, a significant contributor to the nation's GDP, is also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, cement production is responsible for approximately 8% of CO2 emissions. In response, Kenya's new National Building Code 2024 mandates the use of environmentally friendly materials and encourages energy-efficient designs. This regulatory shift creates a significant market opportunity for products like DURAPLUS. In a January 2024 interview, Bamburi's Group Managing Director, Mohit Kapoor, who was appointed in April 2023, confirmed the company's ambition to transition to a 100% green product portfolio. This strategy includes reducing the use of fossil fuels by co-processing waste through its Geocycle arm and investing in renewable energy, such as solar power installations at its plants.

A Legacy of Environmental Action and Scrutiny Bamburi Cement's focus on sustainability is not a recent development. The company has a long and internationally recognized history of environmental rehabilitation, most notably the transformation of its disused limestone quarries in Mombasa into the biodiverse Haller Park and Bamburi Forest Trails. This decades-long project, initiated in the 1970s, serves as a global model for industrial ecosystem restoration. However, the company's environmental record is not without criticism. The cement industry's impact, including dust and emissions, remains a concern for communities near production facilities. A 2023 study on the Athi River highlighted the significant impact of the cement industry on water quality. Furthermore, in early 2024, the company faced scrutiny over coal dust emissions at its Mombasa plant, leading to a voluntary suspension of some activities to address community health concerns. Bamburi's broader sustainability framework, which is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, is built on five pillars: Climate and Energy, Circular Economy, Nature & Biodiversity, People & Human Rights, and Governance. The company has also demonstrated the viability of its green cements in major national projects. Its Duracem product, which offers up to a 64% reduction in CO2 emissions, was used in the construction of the Makupa Causeway Bridge in Mombasa. With the launch of DURAPLUS, Bamburi Cement is making a clear statement about its strategic direction in a market that is increasingly defined by the principles of sustainability. The success of this new product will depend not only on its performance but also on the company's ability to navigate the complex landscape of environmental responsibility and community relations, as it helps build a greener Kenya.