State-owned cement maker PT Semen Gresik Tbk said it wil stop exporting cement in 2005 because of growing demand in the domestic market.
Company President Satriyo said Semen Gresik exports 250,000 tons of cement a year not including exports by its two subsidiaries Semen Padang and Semen Tonasa. Satriyo said cement requirement in the country has increased sharply. He estimated that demand for cement in the country will reach 31Mt this year, up from 28Mt in 2003. Next year, the requirement is predicted to rise further by 10 per cent, he said.
In the first half of this year cement domestic consumption totaled 13.8Mt and Semen Gresik group accounted for 40 per cent of the total consumption.
Lao Cement Branch in Luang-Prabang province under construction
Although, the construction of the Lao Cement Factory in Luang Prabang commenced from July 2004, it is not completed yet because of bad weather conditions. In early October, the land in Namthouam-neua village of Nam-bak district was cleared for the construction project.
From September to October 2004, the local administration of seven villages, namely, Pakgna, Phone, Pakvy, Huieloungtheung, Huiegna, Thakham and Huiebien of Phonesay district of Luang-Prabang province together repaired the road from Pakgna village to Phonsay disrict. According to Mr Khamla, Deputy Head of the district, upon completion of data collection, the district plans to mobilise people of the local area. It is expected that the next project is the construction of a road to link Phonsay and Xiengheun districts.
