Tokyo Cement Co (Lanka) Plc has commenced initial testing at its cement plant in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The fully-automated plant is expected to nearly double the company’s production capacity when it begins commercial operations in February 2017. It will add 1Mta to the existing capacity of Tokyo Cement, bringing total production capacity to 2.8Mta.

This plant symbolises the beginning of an expansion plan undertaken by Tokyo Eastern Cement Co (Private) Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary of Tokyo Cement Co (Lanka) Plc, to reinforce the company’s position. The plan will see the company invest over US$0.5m over the next few months to increase manufacturing capacity of Tokyo Cement’s products.

The project will include the setting up of a fully-automated dry mortar manufacturing plant. Upholding the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the company will also commission an 8MW sustainable biomass power plant geared to meet the energy requirements of the new factory. Tokyo Cement will also develop the private jetty in Trincomalee to accommodate larger vessels that can transport bulk quantities of raw material and finished product both to and from from the new plant.