Karcement, part of the Central Asia Cement group, has said that the upgrade of Kiln Line No 5 will be completed by the third quarter of 2013 and forms part of the company's modernisation programme. 

The new line will have a capacity of 1.2Mta and use dry-process technology. "Until now 85 per cent of the modernization works has been done. The line is scheduled to start a full-capacity operation in late October 2013, the company’s CEO, Gan Chee Liong, told local press.

The project is part of the company's Business Road Map 2020 and is costing around US$30m which is being funded through a loan from Halyk Bank.

Karcement was established by Central Asia Cement to run the 2.1Mta modernisation programme for the Aktau works in Karaganda. Cement capacity at Aktau will reach 2.9Mta when all the upgrade work is complete.