Nepal's Ministry of Industry (MoI) has decided to allocate NPR360m (US$3.5m) to provide electricity connections to nine cement factories as part of its infrastructural development programme for manufacturing industries.

The cement producers to be awarded the funds include: Shivan Cement, Dang Cement, Laxmi Cement, Rolpa Cement, Ghorahi Cement, United Cement, Maruti Cement, Sarbottam Cement and CG Cement.

These nine producers have also received funds to construct access roads, together with another five cement manufacturers: Sonapur Cement, Bhardeu Cement, Makalu Cement, Nigale Cement and Palpa Cement. This allocation of funds also forms part of the government's infrastructure development programme.

“A total of 23 cement factories have been selected for the infrastructure development programme for the current fiscal year, out of which nine will receive funds for electricity connectivity while another 14, including the nine, also will get incentives to construct access roads,” local press quoted Industry Secretary, Krishna Gyanwali, as saying.