Africa-Press – Gambia. The managing director of Jah Oil Companies, Momodou Hydara, yesterday attributed the ongoing cement shortage in The Gambia to external factors, including the shallow Banjul Port channel and adverse weather disrupting lighterage operations.
Speaking to journalists at the company’s headquarters, Hydara said large vessels requiring 13.5–15 meters of draft are unable to berth at the port, while smaller boats face delays due to rough weather conditions.
The shortage has disrupted construction projects nationwide, pushing retail prices to between D500 and D625 per bag. Analysts link the shortage partly to the government’s decision in April 2024 to raise the import tariff on bagged cement from Senegal from D30 to D180 per bag.
Hydara, however, insisted that Jah Oil has the capacity to meet national demand. “As we speak, we have two vessels stranded at sea with 55,000 tons and 59,500 tons of cement each, and another vessel carrying 55,000 tons is on its way to Banjul. The two vessels alone hold about three million bags, far more than the country consumes in three months. Monthly consumption is about 30,000 metric tons,” he said.
He added that the company has invested in expanding its production capacity. A new facility in Farafenni, producing 100,000 bags daily, is operational, while another in Bafuloto with a 200,000-bag daily capacity is nearing completion.
Hydara emphasized that while Jah Oil can ensure consistent supply, it is limited in what it can do. “It is the responsibility of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) to dredge the channel, a matter that has persisted for years. We have repeatedly written to them highlighting the need to facilitate the berthing of vessels,” he said.
To ease the transfer of cement from larger ships to port, the company has also acquired two seagoing vessels, each with a 4,000-ton capacity.
Price concerns
On the recent spike in cement prices, Hydara said Jah Oil is not responsible for retail hikes above D500 per bag. He blamed market manipulators and some retailers for inflating prices, despite the company maintaining an ex-factory price of D390 per 50kg bag.
“Their actions tarnish Jah Oil’s image and harm the very people we serve,” Hydara said, calling on the government and transport union to regulate price increases by retailers and drivers.
He reiterated that Jah Oil remains committed to supplying sufficient cement at factory prices but cannot control market retail prices.
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