Cement shortage batters construction sector
Cement distribution from the country’s sole manufacturer Carib Cement has come to a standstill. Sources at the company have confirmed reports that no cement has been sent out of the plant since last Thursday. The company says it is trying to find a speedy resolution to the problems, which are linked to the recent recall of inferior batches of the product. The sources say the company is intent on preventing a recurrence of the circumstances which led to several hundred tons of inferior quality products being released from its Rockfort Plant. As a result, Carib Cement is taking extra precautions before sending out new batches of cement.
Investigations by the plant into how the substandard product was released were completed last Friday. However, the company is still awaiting the final report from the international expert in cement and concrete who was hired to inspect the manufacturing process at the Rockfort Plant.
On February 23 Caribbean Cement ordered an immediate recall after 500 tons of substandard cement was discovered. The company subsequently extended the recall to all bagged cement manufactured between February 19 and 27. Local RJR News understands that panic is spreading among players in the construction sector about the scarcity of cement. Already a number of major construction sites have been shut down because the contractors have not been able to get any cement.
Published under Cement News
