Susan Gordon, Staff Reporter
Anthony Haynes (right) general manager, Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL), looks on as Brian Young (second right), CCCL chairman; Phillip Paulwell (second left), Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, and Andy Bhajan (left), chairman of the TCL Group, break ground yesterday for the expansion of the cement company's Rockfort, east Kingston, plant. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
CARIBBEAN CEMENT Company Ltd. (CCCL) yesterday broke ground for the US$134 million expansion of its Rockfort plant in east Kingston.
The new facility will result in the doubling of the plant's production capacity, a reduction in energy consumption and the eventual reduction of the price consumers pay for cement.
To this end, a fifth kiln is to be constructed, the key component of the company's modernisation programme.
The oven is expected to, on completion in 2008, produce two million tons of cement per annum, and 1.3 million tons of clinker. Currently, CCCL produces 1.05 million tons of cement.
The kiln #5 project will amount to US$85 million, a large fraction of the US$134 million expansion plan.
FUEL CONSUMPTION TO BE CUT
"We will cut the fuel consumption in half," said Anthony Haynes, general manager at CCCL. "It brings down our cost of producing cement and yes there will be a trickle off effect on the price of cement to consumers, as the company has made a commitment to pass on savings for our customers" he told The Gleaner.
Also speaking at the event, chairman of the company, Brian Young, said at this time the demand for cement was much greater as contractors are anxious to complete projects before the next season begins. He said the Jamaican market will exceed 960,000 tons this year
"Last year our inventories of raw materials came under severe pressure from three hurricanes. Prior to this we were able to adequately supply the Jamaican market," he said.
While he approves of the interim measures to import cement in the face of a shortage in the market, the chairman said Jamaica cannot depend on imports. "I will reiterate. Carib Cement has never been against competition. What we are against is unfair competition and trading practices, such as dumping," he said.
