Pacific Cement maintenance and repair investment

Fiji-based Pacific Cement will be investing close to US$2m for repair and maintenance to its plant, according to local media reports.

Chief executive, Sowani Tuidrola, told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation that the investment this will be the largest at the plant for the last 10 years.

The investment follows a major breakdown to machines at the factory two months ago, that resulted in a cement shortage across the country.

Tuidrola says due to the repair a planned three-week shutdown of the Pacific cement plant will take place.

"We had another two additional pieces that needs to be done. It will cost around US$1.2m for installation and commissioning but that’s only for the Trunnion Gear and then we’ve got a motor which cost over half a million dollar. So that two adds up to about US$2m."

Pacific Cement is importing 25,000t of cement from Vietnam to cater for demand during the shutdown.