Staff at Pertigalete, Cementos Venezuela’s largest plant, have declared an “operational emergency” as the seven kilns have stopped producing clinker. Union leaders have said there are no trucks to transport to limestone from the quarries to the plant and only four out of 13 mills work (two to grind raw meal and two to grind cement).

Louis Chapparo, general secretary of the workers’ union, said that the employees will meet on 14 November in Caracas to formalise the announcement of the sector’s national emergency. He said that they have exhausted all avenues of reconciliation, without positive results.