First-ever cement clinker plant in private sector starts operation, Bangladesh

First-ever cement clinker plant in private sector starts operation, Bangladesh
10 September 2007


The first ever private sector clinker plant started operation in Jessore, Bangladesh marking an important step for private investment in the building materials sector.

The Niloy Cement Clinkerization plant has cost Tk20 crore to set up and will have a capacity of 70,000tpa.

At present clinker is mainly imported from Indonesia, China and Thailand.

Industries Adviser Geeteara Safiya Choudhury inaugurated the Niloy Cement Clinkerization Industries Ltd. at Bashudia in Jessore as chief guest.

In her opening remark, the adviser hoped that through bold steps entrepreneurs would be able to rejuvenate other parts of the cement sector where several plants had been closed.

She said prices of clinker have gone up in the international market recently and some domestic cement plants had stopped production due to a shortage of clinker.

Nitol-Niloy Group Chairman Abdul Matlub Ahmed said the country would be able to satisfy the main part of its clinker needs domestically if the government opened its vast limestone reserve at Sunamgonj and coal reserve across the northern region.

He said the prices of clinker as well as freight charges are going up day-by-day, a trend that encouraged him to set up a clinker industry in the country. "Establishing the basic industry for cement will make the industry self-sufficient and will add more value," he added.

Matlub urged the government to allow entrepreneurs to import clinker raw materials under a bond facility to take advantage of the opportunity offered Bangladesh to export cement to the Indian market duty free.

Sudhakar Dalela, Counselor (Economic & Commercial), Indian High Commission gave the assurance that India would continue the duty free facility to Bangladeshi cement industries.

Published under Cement News