Thatta Cement plans Sri Lanka grinding plant

Thatta Cement Company said on Friday that its proposal to set up a grinding and packing plant in southern Sri Lanka was approved by the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) on 6 January 2012.

SLPA has asked Thatta Cement to send business team to sign the formal contract agreement with the Sri Lankan government and for implementation of the project.

Thatta Cement has decided to construct the grinding plant to benefit from growing demand in Sri Lanka and the African continent. This project will use imported clinker from the company, resulting in increased sales. Furthermore, clinker will be ground and packed at a company to be formed at the Hambantota port which will be then sold to the Sri Lankan market.
 
During the quarter ended September 30, 2011, Thatta Cement produced 70,747t of clinker and 80,619t of cement compared to 68,116t and 84,840t in same period last year, representing growth of 3.86 per cent in clinker production but a 4.98 per decline in cement production.

Local dispatches stood at 58,370t of cement and exports were 23,553t during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 compared to 53,764t and 30,871t in same period of last year – representing growth of 8.57 per local cement dispatches but a drop of 23.71 per cent in exports.