The Sanghi Group of India, one of the world’s largest cement producers, is to invest more than US$80 million in a cement plant in Kenya.

The investment follows the Kenyan government’s move to allow the group’s subsidiary, Cemtech Sanghi, to mine limestone in West Pokot.

The East African reports that mining is believed to commence before May 2012 and that the group expects it will take no more than 36 months to build the proposed factory. Water and power connections have already been completed at the site.

Rajesh Rawal, Sanghi’s managing director in charge of Africa investment said that machinery to be used at the plant is currently being designed in India.