Myanmar: government names successful joint venture cement plant bids

Myanmar's cement sector is set to expand with the prospect of several new state-led joint ventures coming into existence after the government gave the go-ahead to 13 companies to establish projects to boost the country's cement production.

The Ministry had offered tender to both local and foreign firms to operate the plants, which fall under the jurisdiction of the No. 3 Heavy Industries Department of the Ministry of Industry.

The winning firms are: Shwe Taung Cement Co Ltd, Original Group, Max Myanmar Manufacturing, Asian Cement Public, Ultra Group of Companies, Shwe Khit Aung, Ferrostaal, Mother Industrial, Myint Investment Group, Myanmar Cement & Mineral Production, Global Star, Diadem (Myanmar) and Myanmar Jidong Cement.

Myanmar's Investment Commission has already approved the construction of nine new cement plants in the country. Upon completion of those projects, the Ministry of Industry expects that nearly 10.53Mta of cement can be produced. The 15 existing factories, three state owned and the rest privately owned, have a cement capacity of 4.02Mta.

Thailand-based Siam Cement Company will build a cement plant in Myanmar worth US$388m (MMK377.13bn). PT Semen Indonesia also plans to construct a cement factory here worth US$200m, and India-based Ramco Company is currently in discussions with the government about building a cement factory in Myanmar.