DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Tanzania's cement production capacity will rise to 2.97 million tonnes by the end of the year from 2.47 million tonnes, thanks to expansion of its three plants, the trade minister said on Wednesday. Mary Nagu said in a ministerial presentation that domestic consumption is expected to hit 2 million tonnes annually, up from up from industry estimates of 1.5 million tonnes last year. Cement-makers in the east African nation include Tanzania Portland Cement, 69.3 percent owned by Heidelberg Cement Africa, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement AG of Germany. Others are Tanga Cement, which is 62.5 percent owned by Afrisam Mauritius Investment Holdings Limited, and Mbeya Cement, 62.76 percent owned by France's Larfarge. Analysts say they use cement consumption, among other indicators, as a yardstick of the economic strength in many African countries where official data can be haphazard. | 
