Bizerte Cement Company (SCB) Releases First Quarter Activity Indicators
The Bizerte Cement Company (SCB) has published its activity indicators for the first quarter of the year. The company's revenue for the period decreased to 10,869 million Tunisian dinars (Mtnd), entirely generated from the local market.
The reason for this decline is the ongoing production suspension of clinker, which has been ongoing for over a year. The company's activity is currently limited to grinding imported or locally sourced small quantities of clinker. This situation is due to the lack of fuel, namely petroleum coke, the only possible energy source for the furnace's operation. The cement manufacturer's financial struggles have hindered its ability to import this material. Cement production during the first quarter stood at 48,448 tonnes, a slight decrease of 2,140 tonnes compared to the same period in 2024.
As for lime production, it followed the same trend, decreasing by 41.2% year-over-year. The decline is explained by the lack of demand on the local market.
Finally, the activity of unloading petroleum coke ships generated revenue of 1,111 Mtnd, following the unloading of 8 ships, for a total quantity of 92,661 tonnes.
The SCB has a debt of 122,897 Mtnd, but it has been unable to honor its commitments to its suppliers and bank debts.
The management has adopted a restructuring plan to strengthen its operational efficiency, rectify its financial situation, and implement new development strategies. The progressive implementation of this plan will begin shortly, accompanied by a specialized firm in enterprise restructuring.
The resumption of clinker and cement production is announced to meet demand, but no specific date has been provided. For the time being, clinker imports will continue, pending the effective resumption of production.
