Nepal: moves to facilitate production

The government of Nepal has said it will expand access roads to 11 cement plants and supply electricity to eight factories during the current fiscal to facilitate cement production.

"Access road will be expanded from factories to the limestone mines of the respective factories," said Jeet Bahadur Thapa, joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry (MoI), adding.

The move continues a policy introduced by the government in FY2008-09 to build the necessary infrastructure like access roads, electricity grid connections and drinking water for heavy industries from its budget. It has earmarked NPR550m for electricity grid connection and NPR300m for the expansion of access roads this fiscal, according the Himalayan Times.

The MoI had called on large-scale factories to submit proposals for the access roads and grid connections over FY13-14. Only cement companies that produce clinker using local limestone reserves are eligible.

Cement producers eligible for electricity grid connection (region):
* Dang Cement (Dang)
* Laxmi Cement (Matatirtha, Kathmandu)
* Ghorahi Cement (Lamahi, Dang)
* United Cement (Matatirtha, Kathmandu)
* Maruti Cement (Mirchaiya, Siraha)
* Rolpa Cement (Tulsipur, Dang)
* Cosmos Cement (Dhalkebar, Dhanusa)
* Subha Shree Jagadamba Cement (Dang)

Cement producers eligible for the access road (region):
* Ghorahi Cement (Dang)
* Rolpa Cement (Dang)
* Sonapur Cement (Dang)
* United Cement (Matatirtha)
* Kepy Cement (Dhading)
* Nigale Cement (Dhankuta)
* Sarbottam Cement (Nawalparasi)
* Butwal Cement (Butwal)
* Palpa Cement (Palpa)
* Cosmos Cement (Dhanusa)
* Subha Shree Jagadamba Cement (Dang)

Five facilities have been selected for both measures, some of which are yet to start production yet. Projects selected for both facilities of access road and electricity grid connection are Ghorahi Cement, United Cement, Rolpa Cement, Cosmos Cement and Subha Shree Jagadamba Cement.