Indonesia’s Semen Tonasa to reduce exports

State-owned cement maker PT Semen Tonasa said it will reduce cement exports in 2005 to prevent a shortage in supply on the domestic market.   Company president Sadman said shortage is feared with fast growing demand for infrastructure projects in the country.  Normally, PT Semen Tonasa, which has an annual production of 3Mt, exports around 800,000t of cement a year, Sadman said.   Exports will be reduced to around 500,000t in 2005, he said. 

The company also is studying the possibility of expanding its production capacity to meet growing demand in the country, he added.  He said all cement factories are taking preparations to expand production capacity with the prospects of a surge in demand from infrastructure projects.   The government has recently announced an ambitious plan to build infrastructure including road and port facilities valued at more than US$100 billion in the next five years.