Nepal Cement factory limestone supplies obstructed

A cement plant in Nepal has been unable to producer clinker for over a year and a half as local residents have prevented it from extracting limestone.

Arghakhanchi Cement Industry obtained a 30-year permit from the government to extract 1000tpd of limestone at Narapani, Arghakhanchi, however local residents have said the quarry has caused their water sources to dry up.

The plant’s investors say that due to the obstruction, production at the cement factory in Mainaia has stopped as well and another plant at Birpur, Kapilvastu, had also been affected due to the obstruction at Narapani. Rajesh Agrawal, managing director of the company, told the Kathmandu Post that: "We had planned to produce both clinker and cement with the limestone extracted from Narapani, but our efforts have been in vain," he said.

 "Production of cement by using clinker imported from India also fell to 60,000t from 100,000t annually," Mr Agrawal added.