Work started last weekend on Cambodia’s largest cement plant, which will be built in Kampot province with an investment of US$262m by Chip Mong Insee Cement. Chip Mong Insee is a joint venture with Thailand’s Siam City Cement and was formed in December 2012. The new plant will have a cement capacity of 5000tpd.

Leang Khun, the president of Chip Mong Group, said during a ceremony at the site that the new works has been designed to international standards and will also utilise energy-saving measures. The plant will be Cambodia’s largest and most modern with state-of-the-art equipment and technology from Germany and China, said Mr Khun.

“This cement plant will help invigorate the economy and Cambodia as a whole and it will reduce the reliance on cement imports from other countries,” Mr Khun said. “It will provide more advantages such as using natural resources creatively, poverty and work migration reduction,” he added. Mr Khun said that during construction of the plant between 600 and 1800 construction workers will be employed and after completion the plant will directly offer jobs to 500 and 5000 indirectly.

Yu Zhangfa, the CEO of Citic Heavy Industries (Chip Mong Insee's partner in the construction of the plant), said building will be carried out to the highest standards to provide a high-quality service. “We will work together with the project owner to build a model cement plant for not only in Cambodia but also the world,” Mr Yu said.

Citic Heavy Industries will provide system integration services for the entire process, from cement engineering design to production line commissioning and ensuring stable operations, Mr Yu added.
Senate President, Say Chhum, who presided over the inauguration ceremony at the construction site, welcomed the new cement plant. “The investment of Chip Mong Insee Cement Corporation is Cambodia’s future investment. “The large-scale cement plant will help fulfil the demand for cement in the construction sector which is booming right now,” Mr Chhum said.