CMS grinding unit on track for 2016 commissioning

A new grinding plant by the CMS Group is progressing well with trial production scheduled for the end of 2015, according to the group's managing director.

Richard Curtis told the Star Online that the 1Mta new facility, situated adjacent to the group’s clinker plant in Mambong, Sarawak, is due for commissioning in the first quarter of 2016. Upon completion, this third grinding plant for the group will raise cement capacity for the group by almost 60 per cent.

CMS, Sarawak’s sole cement manufacturer, now owns and operates two cement plants with a combined rated production capacity of 1.75Mta.

“With cement demand in Sarawak growing at between three and four per cent per annum, we estimate that with increased production capacity, we will be able to meet the demand at least in the next 10 years,” he said after the company's AGM.

Mr Curtis said the company would invest another MYR17m this year to enhance its cement distribution capabilities. The allocation is largely for upgrading works for the main jetty here to improve the handling of the import of raw materials and export of bulk and bag cement.

CMS had invested some MYR78m in its clinker plant to raise its production capacity by 10 per cent to 0.9Mta.