Finance Question 1

Is there any international benchmark regarding maintenance cost for a cement plant? What is a reasonable figure per tonne of cement or tonne of clinker? I know it depends on the age of plant, technology, the country, etc.

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Re: Finance

As you say there is no true reply to your question, however if you can reduce your total maintenance costs below US$5 per tonne then you will be among the best factories in the world!

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Finance Question 2

If you have any knowledge about clinker kilns of 1000 to 1400tpd capacity being in operation today and being part of a system including precalciner. The question would be if you consider to be feasible to upgrade a 600tpd long dry kiln to an approx 1200tpd, modern precalciner kiln. What do you think an investment for such an upgrade would be like, in USD? What would be your closest estimation for such a work?

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Re: Finance

There are certainly precalciner kilns of 1000 to 1400tpd capacity in operation today. Arguably this is well below the optimum economic scale for a kiln and factory but that depends on the local market conditions. It is also feasible to convert an existing long dry kiln. However, many items of equipment would require upgrading: the raw grinding, the kiln feeding equipment, kiln drive, cooler and clinker transport. Unfortunately this usually means that it is just as economic to scrap the old kiln and start afresh. The likely investment for the conversion would depend on many site specific factors. My best estimate would be US$23.5m.

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