Hetauda:Shiva Om Cement, one of the largest cement factories in the country, has planned to start trial production in October. Construction work at the factory, which lies 11 km to the east of the main market of Hetauda, is at the final stage.

A group of four investors including HR Goyal, Sarda, Lucky and Maru have invested Rs. 4 billion in the factory.

The factory plans to go into production by importing clinker, a basic raw material, from India. According to a source, it plans to produce and sell both clinker and cement in the future.

Siromani Dhakal, chief planner of the organisation, said the factory had taken permission from the government to use limestone from the hilly regions of Sukaura and Budhichaur.

The limestone here is of a better quality as it has more than 48 percent lime content. The factory will require 1,800 tons of limestone daily.

Shiva Om Cement plans to use equipment based on Crup Polisus, a German technology, and will consume 10 MW of electricity. It is equipped with a back house to control release of dirt, a by-product.

The factory will provide direct and indirect employment to 300 and 2,500 workers respectively.

Nepal imported cement worth more than Rs. 2.25 billion from India during the last fiscal year. India fulfils 70 percent of Nepal's requirement of cement. Domestic production amounts to 700,000 tons annually. Demand has been increasing at 15 percent annually.

Source: The Kathmandu Post (2010),"Shiva cement in stores soon",The Kathmandu Post, 30 July 2010