In Chad, the population finds the price of a bag of cement too high, both locally produced and imported. A 50 kg bag of cement sells for between 8,500 and 11,500 CFA francs, or 130 to 176 euros. It is sometimes imported from Morocco, Nigeria or Cameroon, because the Baoré factory in Chad is unable to produce as it should because of the economic crisis. With this high price, many Chadians are unable to build modern houses.
With our correspondent in Ndjamena,
In Sabangali, in the 3rd district of Ndjamena in ChadChérif stopped his construction site almost a year ago. For good reason, the high cost of construction materials in general and cement in particular. “ I started the project in 2020. And the bag, in our neighborhood here, varies from 9 000 to 12,000 FCFA per 50 kilo bag for example, so we don’t know which way to go », he complains.
On social networks recently, consumers have continued to criticize the Chadian government. They are asking for a reduction in the price of a 50 kg bag of cement so that it drops to 3,500 FCFA. Brahim Dadi, a Chadian civil servant, is one of these applicants: “ My request was more insistent to help the entire Chadian population to build permanently. Today, the bag of cement sold at 8,600 FCFA in Ndjamena is sold between 15,000 and 22,000 FCFA in the provinces. »
Listen to 8 billion neighborsConcrete, your merciless universe
Cement “made in Chad” victim of the economic crisis
The arrival in 2011 in Mayo-Kebbi West of the factory of the national cement company of Baoré (Sonacim) should normally have responded to these concerns, because it was supposed to supply 700 tonnes per day, or 200,000 tonnes per year. Unfortunately, this factory is almost dying, it cannot produce cement “made in Chad” because of the economic crisis since 2016. “ The factory was operating at a loss since it had cut cement sales prices. From 5,250, we arrived at 4,850 for the PC 32.5. And the PC 42.5, instead of 6,250, we reduced the bag to 5,250. For the moment, we have no stock in our silo because we are in crisis », Explains Benoit Koye Ndaye, the deputy director of the factory.
Traders are aware of charging prices that are too high. However, they point the finger at road and transport harassment. “ If we buy high and sell low, that doesn’t help us. When the wholesalers bring us the bag at 8,300 FCFA, they have already put the [coût du] transport », explains Abdel, seller in the Habbéna district.
Many Chadians are calling on the authorities to exempt cement production from taxes and to subsidize products linked to the production process. According to them, this would make it possible to offer acceptable costs, as in Cameroon neighbor where a 50 kg bag of cement is bought between 3,500 FCFA and 5,000 FCFA or in Nigeria which markets it between 2,500 FCFA and 3,000 FCFA.
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