Roofings looking to bigger distribution network through SGR

Mar 01, 2016

One of the key advantages that the steel maker envisages is the fact that the SGR will have routes across almost the entire country and region allowing them to easily and cheaply transport their merchandise.

 

East Africa's steel giant Roofings has asked the region to fully exploit the Standard Guage Railway (SGR) describing it as a grand godsend.

"We are already in talks with them (SGR), we want a railway siding because it will be faster and carrying heavier loads," noted Stuart Mwesigwa, Roofings business development manager.

One of the key advantages that the steel maker envisages is the fact that the SGR will have routes across almost the entire country and region allowing them to easily and cheaply transport their merchandise.

"It will help us in distribution, at our Gulu plant for instance, the railway is passing on the side and we will just load the goods instead of using road,"

"Also we are not bringing in as much material currently using the current line, the SGR is going beyond Uganda into south Sudan, Kigali and we have tentacles in all those places," notes Mwesigwa.

The other prospect is the provision of raw materials for building the rail once actual works commence.

"We are also eager to be clients to provide rebars for the building of the railway line," noted Mwesigwa adding that these are some of the business spin-offs from the project despite employment.

Roofings has installed capacity of 72,00 tonnes annually but currently producing at only about half because of lack of markets, so the building of the project will create new markets for the firm especially during the construction phase.

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