MIDROC launches Ethiopia’s first coated calcium carbonate production plant

Addis Ababa, May 22, 2025 (FMC) — MIDROC Investment Group has officially inaugurated the first phase of its Coated Calcium Carbonate Production Plant in Awash 7 Kilo, Afar Region, marking a significant milestone in Ethiopia’s industrial development.

The facility was inaugurated today in the presence of Afar Regional State Chief Administrator Mr. Awol Arba, MIDROC Investment Group CEO Mr. Jemal Ahmed, and other invited guests.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Andualem Wolde-Mariam, Deputy Manager of Modern Building Industries Pvt. Ltd. under MIDROC, described the factory as a pioneering project in Ethiopia’s industrial landscape. The plant is designed to produce coated calcium carbonate — a crucial raw material used in manufacturing water pipes, plastic goods, shoe soles, pharmaceuticals, sponges, and cable products.

With an annual production capacity of 18,000 tons, the plant has started partial operations at 15 percent capacity during its first phase. Full production is expected to be achieved within three years, the Deputy Manager said.

Andualem noted that the plant is part of a broader effort to reduce Ethiopia’s dependency on imports. Once fully operational, it is expected to substitute coated calcium carbonate imports worth more than half a billion U.S. dollars annually.

In its initial phase, production will target supplying ten domestic manufacturing companies. The factory also offers a strong local development component, sourcing 97 percent of its raw materials from nearby areas and generating employment opportunities for the local community, he disclosed.