According to “Tehran Times”, the first unit of Semnan’s Alborz Cement Plant will come on stream by March 2007. The project, which is said to have cost more than 135 billion rials (nearly $15m), is now 32 per cent complete and is expected to produce over 3300tpd cement when its starts operation next year. A consignment of equipment to be installed in the factory was recently imported from Germany. The project is projected to initially create some 920 jobs. The Alborz Cement Plant is to be established 75km west of the capital city Semnan and will cover an area of six hectares.