From TMT Bars to Green Steel: Sanjay Awasthi on Tembo Steels’ Success Journey in Uganda and East Africa

In this interview, Sanjay Awasthi, CEO of Tembo Steels Uganda, provides an overview of the company’s journey and its significant impact on the Uganda steel industry. Established in 2000, Tembo Steels pioneered the production of TMT bars in Uganda, a product known for its strength and flexibility, offering substantial savings in construction projects. Over the years, the company expanded into structural steel production and became the first in East Africa to introduce wire rod manufacturing, achieving a production capacity of 300,000 tons annually.

With two operational plants and a focus on Directly Reduced Iron (DRI), Tembo Steels is now the only provider of primary steel production in Uganda, ensuring superior product quality by avoiding impurities found in scrap-based steel. The company also leads the continent in product diversity, producing HRC, structural steel, and a wide range of substrates unmatched across Africa.

Regarding the broader landscape of the Uganda steel market, Awasthi highlights the industry’s growth, supported by a total installed production capacity of 2.5 million tons. While the sector remains largely focused on secondary and tertiary production, Tembo Steels’ role in pioneering primary steel manufacturing is setting new benchmarks for quality and sustainability, driving innovation and value addition in Uganda’s steel sector.

“We are the only primary steel producer in the country, which gives us an inherent advantage in steel purity. Primary steel production, using virgin iron ore, avoids residual elements found in scrap melting. These residual elements can weaken overall quality, affecting strength and ductility. Our position as the sole primary steel manufacturer ensures a superior product” says Sanjay Awasthi.

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