TCL Group cement reaches Guyana market
The first bags of cement packed at the TCL Guyana Incorporated (TGI) cement packaging terminal have reached local markets.
Last Friday, the first shipment of bulk cement for the TGI terminal arrived in Georgetown from CEMEX in Venezuela. The vessel, MV Caribe Star, carrying 5,500 metric tonnes of cement, moored alongside the TGI facility at about 12:45hrs to begin discharging the bulk cement into the silos, which have a storage capacity of 2,000 metric tonnes.
Trinidad-based Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) is the parent company of TGI and TCL’s General Manger, Arun Goyal said the Group will now be able to once again meet fully the current demand for cement in Guyana and satisfy future growth of the Guyana market. The company will have the capacity to reach other markets in South America.
The cement is being packaged in new-look bags with the TGI logo that also incorporates an emblem of the Guyana map.
Commissioning of the plant, which is a first for the company on the South American mainland, began on October 25 and includes the testing of all installed equipment. TCL stated that all original equipment manufacturers were in Guyana to ensure that the installed equipment function properly and handle the local conditions as required.
When fully commissioned, the terminal will be receiving bulk cement shipped directly from TCL plants in Trinidad and Barbados. TGI Plant Manager Mark Bender said that the arrival of the first bulk shipment is a significant milestone on the way to improved supply of cement to support Guyana’s building activities.
Noting that the terminal will cater exclusively to Guyana, Bender stated that the terminal will strengthen TCL’s competitive position in the marketplace, through improvement of quality of service and reliability of supply to its Guyanese customers.
The bagging plant was constructed at a cost of approximately US$10 million. The plant will be operated by TCL Guyana Incorporated (TGI) and staffed by Guyanese nationals.
Published under Cement News
