New 1.8Mta cement plant for Cambodia

Battambang Conch Cement Co, a joint venture between Hong Kong-based Conch International Holding and local firm Battambang KT Cement Co, is expected to break ground next month in Rattanak Mondul district.

The US$230m cement plant project is due for commissioning in December 2017 and bring an extra 1.8Mta of cement production capacity online in northwestern Cambodia. The company has applied for an industrial mining licence to use limestone from a nearby mountain for its production.

"We will be the fourth cement company to supply the market," said Vinh Hour, director of Battambang Conch Cement Co. "And when the supply increases in the market, the price of cement will decrease."
According to  Mr Hour, Cambodia's cement demand has reached 8Mta, but the existing three cement plants in Kampot province can only supply about half of this amount. The remainder is imported from Asian suppliers.

Hort Pheng, director of industrial affairs at the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, said the ministry has approved five cement factories to date – three of which are current suppliers in southwestern Kampot province.