Ecebol's plant under construction in Caracollo, Bolivia, is expected to undergo testing in the middle of this year, according to Oruro Governor, Víctor Hugo Vásquez, who inspected the works on Tuesday.

"With satisfaction we can say that the advance [of the works] is over 95 per cent, only five per cent is missing, which is likely to be concluded in May or June, because from June or July dry runs will start and in October the facility would start processing raw materials. This means that at the beginning of next year we would have the first bags of cement for commercialisation, " he said.

The works, which is located in the Jeruyo community, Cañohuma Central, Caracollo, is expected to produce 3000tpd or 1.2Mta. This represents over a quarter of the 4Mt national demand with domestic production currently being supplemented with Peruvian imports, added Mr Vásquez.