Largest cement factory sets to begin production
Largest cement factory sets to begin production
Vangvieng Cement Factory No III in Vientiane province is set to begin commercial operation early next year after five years of construction.
The Lao-Chinese joint venture has announced it is conducting a trial run of the production process, hoping to kick off commercial production in March 2014 and supply its first batch of cement shortly after.
The factory, which will have a production capacity of 1 million tonnes a year, is now preparing its materials and training its workers ahead of the start of full-scale production so it can meet the March target.
Vangving C ement Factory No I Director, Mr Thongchan Sounaphon, who is also involved in the development of the new factory, said the start date for commercial production was timely as it would come amid rising demand for constructi on materials due to booming domestic and foreign real estate investment.
Demand for cement is growing in Laos. The country needs a supply about 2-3 million tonnes each year.
There have been cement shortages in the past, forcing authorities to import it.
Mr Thongchan said Vangvieng Cement Factory No I could only supply 87,000 tonnes of cement each year, which meant there were opportunitie s for companies to produce more to keep up with demand.
Construction of the new US$132 million factory began in 2008. A Chinese firm holds 60 percent of the investment share while a Lao firm holds 40 percent.
vientiane times
