Dang:Two new cement industries are starting operations soon in Dang district. Of the three new cement industries slated to open in Dang, Ghorahi Cement Industries at Gogli, Lakshmipur, and Sonapur Cement Industries at Bijauri, Dudhras, are in their final stage of completion.

According to the companies’ management, commercial production would start within a couple of months as the construction phase has ended.

Dang Cement Industries, the third cement industry planned at Hapure, Purandhara, is still in the construction phase. Rolpa Cement Industries at Budagaon of Rolpa is also in the construction phase. The two industries’  pacehas been hampered by inadequate power supply. Sonapur Industry said that it would start commercial production within three to four months while Ghorahi Cement has planned to start production within nine months.

Ghorahi Industry said that the estimated production would be 1,200 tonnes each day in the initial stage. The company plans to increase production to 2,400 tonnes everyday after 15 months of operations.

Shiva Aryal, project co-coordinator of Ghorahi Cements said, the industry would fulfill 40 percent of the national demand after the production starts full swing.  “Currently Nepalese cements fulfil 20 percent of the national demand while 80 percent of cement is imported from India,” said Aryal.

At present, Nepali Cement manufacturers are importing clinker from India for cement production. Around 80 percent of the clinker i.e 3 million tonnes of clinker is imported from India annually. “Now, clinker will be available in Dang itself,” he added.

The industry will mine limestone in Tapama of Kavre VDC on 38 hectares. The VDC is 31 kilometres north of Dang. The limestone from Tapama alone will fulfill the national demand for 25 years.

The industry, which is being constructed with an investment of Rs 5 billion, has bought 90 bighas of land and has started installing the machinery.

Around Rs 3 billion has been invested by 11 banks and the rest has been injected by individuals. Sonapur Industry said that it would import limestone from Dubidada, which is some 18 kilometers north from Dudhras. The industry is currently installing machines in a plant spread over 60 bighas of land.

Basu Pandey, director of the industry, said the construction is in its final stage. The industry will be able to produce 750 tonnes of cement everyday.

The industry will provide direct employment to more than 1,500 people as soon as it starts operations. According to the industries, more than 1,600 vehicles would be used by the four industries after they begin operations. A single industry requires 1600 tonnes of limestone per day. Transporting the required limestone needs 160 trucks.

Rolpa Cement Industry is also preparing to start operations within a year. Dinesh Dangi, director of the Industry, said they are aiming to produce 500 tonnes of cement each day.  The industry at Hapure has said that it aims to produce 3,600 tonnes of cement everyday.

source: KC, D.L. (2010),"New cement plants on anvil",The Kathmandu Post, 22 September 2010