Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCF) has informed Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) about the progress achieved on the implementation of the expansion of its Iskandarabad plant, which is estimated to come online mid-2019.

The 7300tpd dry-process grey clinker line, a brownfield expansion at the company's existing site in Punjab, will take total grey cement capacity at the plant to 18,000tpd.

The total project cost is estimated at PKR25bn (US$216m), which includes the impact of the recent devaluation of Pakistani rupee. The project is financed by mainly bank loans (51 per cent of project cost), own resources (32 per cent) and a rights issue (17 per cent).

FLSmidth A/S is the main EPC contractor and was awarded a EUR79m contract through the National Bank of Pakistan. Until the quarter ended 31 March 2018, a total of 59 shipments have been made with estimated value of EUR36m to the plant site.

The civil construction and mechanical erection work is being carried out by Descon Engineering Ltd, who had completed around 35 per cent of the civil work by 31 March 2018. Further plant erection work has also started and five per cent work has been completed.

Commercial production from new line of 7300tpd is expected to commence by the end of May 2019.